DENVER, June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- One of the nation's top producers and
 processors of premium Black Angus beef, Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC,
 will introduce Creekstone Farms Natural Black Angus Beef later this summer.
 Products sold under this new natural label have been produced without
 supplemental growth-promoting hormones and antibiotics.  As well, Creekstone
 Farms natural Black Angus cattle have been raised on a 100% vegetarian diet
 since birth.
     "This is the first natural beef program that marries high quality,
 guaranteed tender Black Angus beef with a 'no-hormones, no-antibiotics'
 program," said Brad Caudill, senior vice president of marketing for Creekstone
 Farms.  "There are several 'natural' programs out there, but none that can
 offer the taste and tenderness of our Creekstone Farms Black Angus beef that
 also carries the 'natural' benefit."
     Like its flagship program, Creekstone Farms Premium Black Angus Beef(TM),
 Creekstone Farm's Natural Beef will also be Guaranteed Tender(TM) and produced
 under their unique "Tenderness Management" system.  This system begins with
 superior quality Black Angus cattle that are finished on a corn-based feed
 ration which helps produce better-marbled beef.  Finally, Creekstone Farms
 hand trims and ages their beef in combination with their retail and
 distribution partners.  They also conduct tenderness testing in order to
 ensure all of their beef surpasses USDA tenderness guidelines.  "Our shear
 forces tenderness testing is another step that enables us to consistently
 deliver on our Guaranteed Tender beef promise," says Caudill.
     All Creekstone Farms' natural beef is source verified through the
 company's TRUSTMARK(R) program.  This program verifies that all Creekstone
 Farms Natural Black Angus Beef comes from animals born in the United States.
 Creekstone Farms' TRUSTMARK(R) program enables the company to trace their
 natural cattle back to the ranch where the cattle originated.
     Through a series of checks and balances, Creekstone will verify all
 production practices for their new natural beef.  Though its production and
 cattle feeding partners provide affidavits confirming that animals have never
 been administered growth-promoting hormones or antibiotics, Creekstone Farms
 will also conduct random testing for both growth promotants and antibiotic
 residues at its processing plant in Arkansas City, Kan.
     Creekstone Farms expects to build a market for its natural Black Angus
 beef in high-end supermarkets and restaurants - just as it has done with its
 existing premium beef offering.  "Our new natural beef program is not a
 replacement for our current premium Black Angus beef program," said Caudill.
 "Our new natural program has been designed from the ground up to meet the
 needs of retail and foodservice customers, as well as consumers, seeking
 premium, natural beef raised without added hormones or antibiotics."
     Already, Caudill says, retail and foodservice operators have both
 expressed great interest in this new product, and a substantial portion of
 their initial production is pre-sold.  "This shows there is tremendous demand
 for premium quality natural beef that delivers both taste and tenderness," he
 said.  "Creekstone Farms has a reputation for quality Black Angus beef, and
 our new natural offering will continue to deliver on that promise which is the
 cornerstone of our business model."
     Creekstone Farms' Black Angus branded beef program was founded nine years
 ago by John and Carol Stewart on their 1,100-acre purebred Black Angus farm
 near Louisville, Ky. The Stewarts' business objective has been to build upon
 their own propriety high-quality Black Angus genetics to become the world's
 premier producer and marketer of Black Angus beef.
     Creekstone's program is unique in the beef industry because it combines
 superior Black Angus genetics, healthy and humane cattle management, carefully
 controlled high-quality feeding, and state-of-the-art processing of Black
 Angus cattle exclusively. Creekstone Farms beef is one of a few branded
 programs certified by the USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service (AMS).  This
 certification requires that USDA graders examine each carcass to assure that
 it meets the program's quality and certification standards.
     Creekstone Farms Premium Black Angus "Guaranteed Tender" fresh beef is
 currently distributed through traditional retail channels and in many
 fine-dining restaurants, including David Burke & Donatella in New York City;
 Aqua, Farallon and LuLu's in San Francisco; Dantanna's in Atlanta; and
 Bellagio, MGM Grand and New York-New York in Las Vegas.
     The company also sells frozen Black Angus beef burgers and fully cooked
 Black Angus beef patties through many national as well as regional grocery
 retailers.
 
 

SOURCE  Creekstone Farms Premium Beef LLC