Are you a fan of Kroger’s store-brand products? Have you ever wondered who makes their bacon?
Before we say what company makes Kroger’s bacon, though, let’s take a closer look at some interesting news about food processing and efforts to bring Dayton, Ohio back to life.
And while we’re at it, let’s also explore some top-rated bacon options available in the market.
So sit back, relax, and get ready to learn more about the world of bacon and grocery stores.
Walk down the bacon aisle at your local Kroger supermarket and you’ll see familiar national brands like Oscar Mayer and Hormel But you’ll also find Krager’s own private label Heritage Farm bacon sold at a cheaper price point. This prompts the question – who actually produces Kroger brand bacon products?
Kroger is one of the largest grocery retailers in the U.S. with over 2,700 stores under various banners like Kroger, Ralphs Fred Meyer and more. The company sells many popular private label items under brands like Kroger, Heritage Farm, and Simple Truth.
Let’s take a closer look at who supplies bacon and other private label products for Kroger supermarkets
Overview of Kroger Brand Bacon
Kroger offers a wide variety of bacon options under its Heritage Farm private label:
- Sliced smoked bacon
- Thick sliced smoked bacon
- Lower sodium and uncured varieties
- Flavored bacons like applewood smoked, maple flavored, brown sugar, etc.
- Pork bacon ends and pieces
- Precooked bacon strips
Heritage Farm bacon comes in different pack sizes ranging from 12 oz. up to 2.5 lbs. Vacuum sealed packaging helps prolong freshness.
While not officially certified organic, certain Kroger bacon selections are raised without antibiotics or added hormones. The simple ingredients and affordable price make it a budget-friendly choice.
Pork Suppliers for Kroger Bacon
Kroger does not actually manufacture any of its own store brand food products. Instead, the company contracts with various meat processors and packers to produce items sold under the Kroger labels.
For bacon and other pork products, two of Kroger’s major suppliers are:
JBS USA
Headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, JBS is the largest processor of beef and pork in the United States. The company operates eight pork processing plants including locations in Ohio and Kentucky.
JBS supplies various pork products that end up packaged under the Kroger brand. The Smithfield Foods facility in North Carolina was also a supplier until JBS acquired it in 2021.
Seaboard Foods
Seaboard Foods is a major pork producer and second largest hog processor in the U.S. The company is headquartered in Kansas and has numerous processing facilities across the Midwest.
Seaboard is believed to be one of the top suppliers of pork products to Kroger stores for packaging under private label brands. The vertical integration allows quality control from farm to finished products.
Both JBS and Seaboard have the capabilities and capacity to produce millions of pounds of pork for Kroger annually. The power of these large suppliers helps Kroger keep costs down.
Why Kroger Uses Private Label Products
Rather than producing its own goods, Kroger relies on established manufacturers for food production. Private label products give Kroger several key advantages:
Cost Savings – Contracting established manufacturers to produce store brand items is cheaper than Kroger making everything in-house. Private label allows discounted pricing.
Quality Control – Kroger can specify ingredients and standards for suppliers to meet when producing items like bacon. This ensures quality control without owning the plants.
Consumer Options – Private labels give customers lower-priced alternatives to national brands. Providing choices caters to diverse shoppers.
Improves Loyalty – Private label promotes customer loyalty to Kroger’s family of stores since shoppers can only get those products there.
Higher Margins – Marking up inexpensive private label goods improves profit margins compared to reselling national brands alone.
Leveraging large pork suppliers gives Kroger the economies of scale to deliver low-cost bacon and other pork products to consumers. The store brand strategy clearly benefits the company’s bottom line.
Other Kroger Private Label Suppliers
In addition to pork providers, Kroger partners with many other food manufacturers and packers to produce its wide range of private label items:
- Bakery goods from manufacturers like Flowers Foods
- Dairy products from Dean Foods and MDVA
- Meats from Tyson, Cargill, and National Beef
- Grocery essentials from Proctor & Gamble, Kraft Heinz, and many more big brands
Leveraging the capabilities of established food production companies enables Kroger to offer diverse, quality private label products at value prices across categories.
Trying Kroger Brand Bacon
The next time you’re shopping at Kroger or an affiliate store like Ralphs, Harris Teeter, or Fred Meyer, consider trying the store brand Heritage Farm bacon.
While produced by major pork suppliers like JBS and Seaboard, the bacon still delivers plenty of flavor and savings. Going with the private label allows you to skip premium national brands when you just need bacon for baking, sandwiches, or breakfast side dishes.
Of course, taste preferences are subjective. You may find you like enhanced flavor of certain national bacon brands better. But there’s no denying the budget-friendly price point of Kroger’s private label bacon.
With major pork processor plants supplying it, Heritage Farm bacon offers convenience, cost savings, and satisfying flavor. Many loyal Kroger shoppers buy it regularly for their family.
So next time you need to stock up on everyone’s favorite salty, smoky cooked pork belly, take a look at the Kroger brand bacon options. You might just find a new affordable go-to brand for all your bacon needs.
The Company Behind Kroger’s Bacon
SugarCreek, a major food company in the US, is one of Kroger’s bacon suppliers. SugarCreek only makes fully cooked bacon at its plant in Dayton, Ohio. There is also “smoke house capability” at the Dayton facility for processing raw bacon for retail and food service. ”.
SugarCreek paid $215,000 for the old Kroger grocery store in Dayton’s Westwood neighborhood. They did this to reuse and restore buildings along the Gettysburg corridor, stop more blight, and help the west side community stay strong in the long term. The business will store equipment at the site, which will then be fixed up and sent to SugarCreek’s facility up the road at 1241 N. Gettysburg Ave. , as well as the company’s other locations.
On the other hand, Kroger continues to grow and attract customers by making more and more of its own brands of baked goods, pet food, and other goods. The company’s core in-house brand offers good quality at budget-friendly prices, with thousands of items across categories. Additionally, Kroger offers private-label products under brands like Simple Truth and Private Selection, among others.
Revitalization Efforts In Dayton, Ohio
Recently, there have been a lot of efforts to improve Dayton, Ohio. Companies like SugarCreek are leading the way in redeveloping run-down properties. SugarCreek, a leading food manufacturer and bacon producer, purchased the former Kroger grocery store at 900 N. Gettysburg Ave. for $215,000 in an effort to reuse and revitalize buildings around the Gettysburg corridor. The company wants to use the empty building as a warehouse and training center, which will add to the money it has already spent in the area.
Dayton has been trying to bring in new businesses and investment for a number of years as part of its revitalization efforts. The old Kroger building had been empty since 2008 and was a eyesore in the neighborhood until SugarCreek bought it and started fixing it up. For its dedication to the West Dayton area and its plans for growth, the company has been praised by Dayton Mayor Nan Whaley, who sees it as a benefit to the community.
SugarCreek’s investment in Dayton extends beyond just the former Kroger property. The business has had a building in Dayton since 1975. In 2002, it was expanded so that it could make fully cooked bacon. This building is very important to SugarCreek because it’s the only place where fully cooked bacon is made. In Ohio, the company also has two more factories and three corporate offices, which employ over 1,350 people across the state.
Dayton is still trying to get back on its feet, and companies like SugarCreek are leading the way in fixing up run-down buildings and making new jobs for the people who live there. As more businesses invest in Dayton, the city’s future looks bright and promising.
The 6 Worst And 5 Best Bacon Brands
FAQ
Who manufactures Kroger brand products?
Where do Kroger products come from?
Who makes the private selection brand?
Where can I buy Bacon at Kroger?
Shop for Bacon in our Meat & Seafood Department at Kroger. Buy products such as Kroger® Hardwood Smoked Sliced Bacon for in-store pickup, at home delivery, or create your shopping list today.
Who makes Kroger Food?
1. Kroger Brand Cereal Is Made by Ralston Foods 2. Dairy Products (Kroger Dairy Plants) 3. Kroger Coffee Is Made by Tara Foods 4. Kroger Paper Towels Is Made by Clearwater Paper 5. Kroger Bread Is Made by Kroger Bakeries 6. Dog and Cat Food Is Made by Delight Products 7. Kroger Cheese Is Made by Kraft 8.
Does Kroger have a ‘Our Brands’ division?
As the head of Kroger’s “Our Brands” division, he’s charged with managing, developing — and yes, tasting — the retailer’s store brands, which cover several different lines and thousands of products, from Private Selection olive oil to Simple Truth organic baby food pouches.
Who makes Kroger cereal?
This manufacturer produces all of Kroger’s line of cereals as well as cereal for other popular store brands you probably shop at frequently. Ralston Foods has been making various hot and cold cereals for private label selling for over 100 years, partnering up with big names such as Purina and General Mills. 2. Dairy Products (Kroger Dairy Plants)
Who makes Kroger bread?
Kroger Bread Is Made by Kroger Bakeries Kroger owns and operates nine bakeries, where they produce their own baked goods and bread. Before the store grew into the giant retailer it is known for today; it would outsource to many different bakeries to have their bread made and labeled.
Is Kroger a top grocer?
In an industry full of top performers, though, Kroger stands out. The nation’s largest grocer brings in more than $20 billion annually through its store brands. During the company’s most recent earnings call, CEO Rodney McMullen noted that its own brand products now account for 29.5% of unit sales and 26% of sales dollars.