Perdue Farms, Inc. is a family-owned poultry-focused agribusiness based in Maryland, United States. It was founded in 1920 by Arthur W. Perdue. Now in its fifth generation, the company ranks 56th on Forbes’ list of America’s Largest Private Companies in 2019. Perdue Farms generates an annual revenue of over $7 billion.
The company began primarily as an egg business and began selling chicks to local farmers in 1920. Arthur’s son, Frank Perdue, joined the family firm in 1939. The company shifted its hatchery-focused business to chicken raising in the 1940s. Frank then took over leadership of the business in the 1950s and expanded into agribusiness.
Perdue remains one of the largest grain companies in the US. Their money-back guarantee, Perdue chicken brand was established in 1969, and its iconic television commercials featuring Frank Perdue followed throughout the 1970s and all through the 1990s. Frank’s son, Jim Perdue, took over as the company’s chairman in 1991.
Perdue exports its products to more than 70 countries around the world. It is the fourth-largest chicken producer in the US.
- Family name: Perdue family
- Sector: Consumer Products & Retail
- Founded: 1920
- Founder: Arthur W. Perdue
- Country: United States
- Company headquarters: Maryland, USA
- Chairman: Jim Perdue
- Revenue: US$6.7 billion (2016)
- Ranking: 56 [Forbes 2019]
- Family ownership: 100%
- Employees: 19,000
- Website: https://www.perdue100.com/
