Brakebush Brothers, Inc.
Family-owned American chicken processor founded in 1925 in Westfield, Wisconsin, acquired by Hormel Foods for $1.06 billion in September 2026.
Company Type
private
Founded
1925
Headquarters
Westfield, Wisconsin, United States
Employees
~2,500
Primary Market
United States
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About Brakebush Brothers, Inc.
What does Brakebush Brothers make?
Brakebush produces fully cooked and portioned chicken products for foodservice customers, national chains, and industrial ingredient buyers.
Is Brakebush Brothers publicly traded?
No. The company is family-owned and privately held. It will join Hormel Foods, which trades on the NYSE under HRL, when the acquisition closes.
Who founded Brakebush Brothers?
Brothers William and Otto Brakebush founded the company in Westfield, Wisconsin, in 1925.
Where is Brakebush Brothers headquartered?
The company is headquartered in Westfield, Wisconsin, at N4993 6th Drive.
Who owns Brakebush Brothers?
The Brakebush family owns the company. Hormel Foods agreed to acquire it for $1.06 billion in September 2026, pending closing.
Did Hormel buy Brakebush?
Hormel announced a $1.06 billion agreement to acquire Brakebush on September 30, 2026. The deal was pending as of October 1, 2026.
History of Brakebush Brothers, Inc.
William and Otto Brakebush started the business in Westfield, Wisconsin, in 1925 with one truck, hauling livestock and poultry to markets in Madison and Milwaukee. The company added sugar and egg delivery, then began dressing and freezing poultry for customers.
Over decades the business focused on further processing: cooking, par-frying, slicing, and portioning chicken into ready-to-use products. Facilities grew in Westfield and expanded to Wells, Minnesota, and Mocksville, North Carolina, with additional sites including Thomasville, North Carolina, for transportation.
Brakebush Transportation grew into a fleet of more than 90 trucks and 230 trailers. The company marked its 100th anniversary in 2025 as a family operation entering its fourth generation.
On September 30, 2026, Hormel Foods announced an agreement to acquire Brakebush for $1.06 billion. The deal adds a scaled value-added chicken platform to Hormel's protein business and was pending regulatory review as of October 1, 2026.
Brands Owned by Brakebush Brothers, Inc.
Brakebush Brothers, Inc. owns 1 brand in our database. Explore the ownership tree below — click categories to expand and see individual brands.
Brakebush Brothers, Inc.
private · Founded 1925 · Westfield, Wisconsin, United States
1
brands
Brakebush Brothers, Inc. Ownership: Pros & Cons
Advantages
- +Century-long reputation in foodservice chicken
- +Vertically integrated with own transportation fleet
- +Fourth-generation family continuity provides operational stability
- +Hormel deal validates the business at $1.06 billion
Considerations
- -Single-protein concentration in chicken
- -Input cost exposure to poultry commodity cycles
- -Integration into a public company ends family control
- -Five-facility footprint is smaller than national protein rivals
Frequently Asked Questions About Brakebush Brothers, Inc.
What does Brakebush Brothers make?
Brakebush produces fully cooked and portioned chicken products for foodservice customers, national chains, and industrial ingredient buyers.
Is Brakebush Brothers publicly traded?
No. The company is family-owned and privately held. It will join Hormel Foods, which trades on the NYSE under HRL, when the acquisition closes.
Who founded Brakebush Brothers?
Brothers William and Otto Brakebush founded the company in Westfield, Wisconsin, in 1925.
Where is Brakebush Brothers headquartered?
The company is headquartered in Westfield, Wisconsin, at N4993 6th Drive.
Who owns Brakebush Brothers?
The Brakebush family owns the company. Hormel Foods agreed to acquire it for $1.06 billion in September 2026, pending closing.
Did Hormel buy Brakebush?
Hormel announced a $1.06 billion agreement to acquire Brakebush on September 30, 2026. The deal was pending as of October 1, 2026.
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