Awards

Smithfield was named to LinkedIn’s Top Companies: Industry Edition list ranking top workplaces for professionals to grow their careers in nine U.S. industries: financial services, health care, media & entertainment, marketing & advertising, retail, consumer goods, real estate, travel & hospitality and technology & information. LinkedIn’s methodology assesses data driving insight into company attributes including professionals’ ability to advance, skills growth, company stability, external opportunity, company affinity, gender diversity and educational background. The platform’s Top Companies: Industry Edition list is designed to celebrate people and companies with more than 500 employees making an impact in the professional world.

Smithfield received a GLOBEE Award for Video of the Year from the American Best in Business Awards for a documentary it produced highlighting the importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in American agriculture. The company’s Martin family documentary outlines the genesis of the new program from the perspective of the Martins, contract hog farmers for Smithfield based in Wayne County, N.C. The contract-grower program is part of the company’s $15 million commitment to further diversity, equity and inclusion in food manufacturing, agriculture and education through its Unity & Action program.

Smithfield received a GLOBEE Award for Manufacturing Company of the Year from the American Best in  Business Awards for its industry leading carbon reduction efforts. Smithfield became the first major protein company to adopt a far-reaching GHG emissions reduction goal across its value chain in 2016 – 25% by 2025. The company has since pledged to reduce GHG emissions 30 percent across its U.S. value chain by 2030 and became the first major protein company to target becoming carbon negative in its U.S. company-owned operations by 2030.

Smithfield received a Silver Stevie Award for Manufacturing Company of the Year from the American Business Awards for 2020 efforts to ensure stability in the global food supply; keep employees healthy and safe; progress toward leading commitments to reduce the environmental impact of its operations; and invest in diversity, equity and inclusion.

Smithfield Foods received a 2021 Sustainability, Environmental Achievement and Leadership (SEAL) Award in the Environmental Initiative category for demonstrating ESG leadership and innovation in its distribution operations.

Smithfield Foods has been recognized for a second consecutive year on Forbes' list of America's Best Employers for Veterans. The 2021 list, presented by Forbes and Statista Inc., is based on an independent survey completed by over 5,000 U.S. veterans working for companies who employ at least 1,000 people in the United States.

In 2021, Military Times included Smithfield Foods in the publication’s Best for Vets Employers rankings for the third consecutive year. Awarded during National Military Month, the rankings recognize companies for their efforts to recruit and support service members, veterans, and military families. Smithfield's Helping Our Heroes initiative is aimed at prioritizing veteran employment and career development while strengthening the community and family support systems veterans rely on. In addition to supporting veteran causes in its charitable giving and philanthropic efforts, the company has committed to hire 4,000 veterans by 2025 and has launched various programs to support military-to-civilian life transition.

Smithfield has been announced as TeamMates' 2020-21 Community Partner of the Year for our partnership in Crete, Nebraska. TeamMates serves middle and high school students through mentor-student relationships that encourage students to discover and build upon their individual strengths and talents. Smithfield has sponsored the program since 2011 and several employees volunteer as mentors.

Selling Power, a leading sales publication, has Smithfield 27th on its list of “50 Best Companies to Sell For” after an extensive evaluation process that assessed compensation and benefits packages, sales culture, onboarding practices, sales enablement strategies and training processes and its COVID-19 response.
Read the complete list of Best Companies to Sell For.

Smithfield’s North East, MD distribution center was named a 2021 Top Green Provider by Food Logistics. The award recognizes companies whose products, services or exemplary leadership are enhancing sustainability in the cold food and beverage industry.

Smithfield Foods’s distribution center in North East, MD has received Silver Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification from the U.S. Green Building Council. The state-of-the-art facility, which began operating in fall 2019, is the first building in the company's portfolio to receive the LEED certification.

The Apprenticeship NC - Outstanding Registered Apprenticeship Employer award annually recognizes a North Carolina employer with an inventive, effective workforce development system supporting workers, businesses and local economies. Smithfield's maintenance technician apprenticeship programs entail three years of classroom learning and an additional year of hands-on training with experienced technicians at local Smithfield facilities. Watch a video on Smithfield Foods’ Registered Apprenticeship Program at Wayne Community College.

Smithfield’s Crete, Neb.; Kinston, N.C.; and Sioux Falls, S.D. facilities have been recognized by The Association for Packaging and Processing Technologies (PMMI) for their efforts in driving improved performance through sustainability and going beyond environmental compliance.

The NAMI Environmental Achievement Awards are presented to member companies that go beyond environmental compliance by designing and successfully implementing an innovative plant upgrade or environmental program. The company's Orange City, Iowa; Springdale, Ohio; Lincoln, Neb. and Cudahy, Wisc. facilities received 2021 Environmental Achievement Awards.

The American Business Awards® are the premier business awards program in the U.S.A. Smithfield Foods was recognized with a bronze award In the category of COVID-19 Response, which was designed to honor organizations that have worked valiantly to keep the country safe, healthy, employed, and informed throughout the pandemic. Our North East Distribution Center also received a bronze award in the Sustainable Best Practices category.

Forbes compiled this list, in partnership with market research firm Statista, by surveying more than 5,000 U.S. veterans, who have served in the armed forces, including the military, the National Guard and military reserves. Inclusion on this list recognizes Smithfield’s veteran-friendly working conditions and environment as well as our approach to diversity and inclusion. View the full list.

In 2020, Military Times included Smithfield Foods in the publication’s Best for Vets Employers rankings for the second consecutive year. Awarded during National Military Month, the rankings recognize companies for their efforts to recruit and support service members, veterans, and military families. The company hired nearly 700 veterans in 2019 and provides designated veteran hiring, training, retaining and employment initiatives for individuals transitioning out of military service.

Smithfield received a total of 73 awards from the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) in 2019. NAMI presented Smithfield facilities with 46 Environmental Recognition Awards, which are bestowed upon organizations that go beyond environmental compliance by designing and successfully implementing innovative plant upgrades or environmental programs. Smithfield facilities received 27 additional awards for their worker safety efforts. Eight Smithfield locations received the Worker Safety Award of Honor, the highest award bestowed by the organization.

In 2019, Military Times included Smithfield Foods in the publication’s Best for Vets Employers rankings. Awarded during National Military Month, the rankings recognize companies for their efforts to recruit and support service members, veterans, and military families. Smithfield’s Helping Our Heroes initiative is focused on employing more than 4,000 military veterans—or 10 percent of the company’s U.S. workforce—by 2025. The company hired more than 600 veterans in 2018 and provides designated training for individuals transitioning out of military service.

In 2019, Smithfield Foods received the 10-year Environmental Stewardship Award for our Tar Heel, North Carolina, facility from the North Carolina Environmental Stewardship Initiative (ESI). This program is run by the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality (NC-DEQ) and promotes superior environmental performance in North Carolina. The NC-DEQ provides technical assistance and networking opportunities to stimulate the development and implementation of programs that use pollution prevention and innovative approaches to meet and go beyond regulatory requirements. Our Wilson, North Carolina, facility also received this honor in 2018.

In its March 2019 issue, Food Logistics magazine named Smithfield’s Chris Lahti among the winners of the annual Rock Stars of the Supply Chain award. This award recognizes champions in the global food and beverage supply chain industry whose achievements, hard work, and vision have shaped and attained milestones in safety, efficiency, productivity, and innovation. Lahti, vice president of distribution, received this honor for his efforts and his team’s role in supply chain consolidation initiatives within the company, which resulted in significant operational, sustainability, and economic benefits.

In 2019, the National Association of Manufacturers recognized Smithfield with two 2019 Manufacturing Leadership Awards for a zero-waste-to-landfill initiative and SAP technology integration project. The prestigious awards honor projects and leaders that shape the future of global manufacturing. Smithfield’s zero-waste-to-landfill initiative encourages the company’s domestic facilities to meet a rigorous set of criteria to eliminate waste sent to landfill. The SAP technology integration project successfully integrated and streamlined Smithfield’s business functions under one operating system to drive efficiencies and enhance performance across all plants and production lines.

Smithfield received a total of 67 awards from the North American Meat Institute (NAMI) in 2018. NAMI presented Smithfield facilities with 43 Environmental Recognition Awards, which are bestowed upon organizations that go beyond environmental compliance by designing and successfully implementing innovative plant upgrades or environmental programs. Smithfield facilities received 24 additional awards for their worker safety efforts. Eight Smithfield locations received the Worker Safety Award of Honor, the highest award bestowed by the organization.

Food Processing, one of our industry’s most closely followed trade magazines and websites, named Smithfield Foods its 2018 Processor of the Year. In doing so, it acknowledged that Smithfield “perhaps has never been stronger” and “is on a roll again, buoyed by U.S. fascination with protein, foreign markets for pork and some recent acquisitions.” As part of its recognition, Food Processing wrote in-depth articles focusing on Smithfield’s research & development efforts as well as the success of the “One Smithfield” initiative that has encouraged sharing of best practices across the organization.

President and CEO Ken Sullivan was named CR Magazine’s Responsible CEO of the Year in 2017. This award is presented to CEOs that visibly exceed standards in the areas of employee relations, environmental impact, sustainability, human rights, philanthropy, and corporate responsibility practices. To be selected, judges measure the magnitude in which candidates have impacted their organization and community, the extent of corporate initiatives led by CEOs during the previous year, and the overall risk inherited by CEOs in order to deliver on corporate commitments.

In its 2017 report, Feeding Ourselves Thirsty, leading business sustainability organization Ceres ranked Smithfield Foods No. 1 in water management among leading meat companies. The report evaluates publicly available information on the water use, stewardship, and policies of 42 major food sector companies in four industries: packaged food, beverage, meat, and agricultural products. The report examines how water risks affect the profitability and competitive positioning of these companies.

For our achievements in natural resource reduction, protection, and education, Smithfield Foods received the 2016 Friend of Conservation Award from the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD). The NACD is a national nonprofit organization that represents and serves 3,000 local conservation districts across the country. In presenting the award, the NACD noted Smithfield’s longtime sponsorship of the National Conservation Foundation-Envirothon, an educational and environmental conservation competition for high school students.

Smithfield Foods was selected by Safety National as a winner of its 2015 Safety First Grant Program. Safety National, a leading provider of workers compensation insurance solutions, awarded the $10,000 grant to Smithfield to support our innovative and impactful blade stop technology used in meat cutting band saws. This pioneering technology reduces lacerations and other safety risks to employees. Safety National’s Risk Control Committee evaluated award nominees based on creativity, innovation, anticipated impact, marketability, and repeatability.