BRIDGEWATER, N.J., May 26, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- Applegate, the nation's leading natural and organic meat company, announced today an agreement with Hormel Foods, Inc. to become an independently operated, stand-alone subsidiary.

"Over the last 28 years Applegate has brought transparency and clean ingredients to American favorites and classics like hot dogs, bacon and deli meat," said Stephen McDonnell, Applegate founder. "It was my mission from the start to change the way we think about meat – how it's raised and produced – and this agreement is definitely a continuation of that mission." For McDonnell's statement to customers, visit: http://www.applegate.com/statement-from-stephen-mcdonnell-founder-applegate.

McDonnell founded Applegate in 1987, and the company has experienced exponential growth in the exploding organic and natural food market. Applegate sells a wide variety of natural and organic meat products including deli meats, hot dogs, bacon, sausages, frozen breaded chicken and pre-packed lunch kits. There are currently more than 140 Applegate products sold in stores nationwide. Applegate is a pioneer in making antibiotic-free and humanely raised meat available nationwide.

McDonnell will serve as an advisor, and Kerry Collins, the company's current CEO, will continue in her role for the next several months.  The company's headquarters will remain in Bridgewater, New Jersey, and all employees retained. They added that they view Hormel's acquisition as an opportunity to not only grow Applegate's presence, but also expand the natural and organic food movement. 

"Applegate's consumers won't see any changes," said Collins. "Our products, standards, mission and focus will remain the same. We're going to continue to make noise to change the food system for the better. When Applegate first started, there were only a handful of antibiotic-free animal farms, and today we work with nearly 1,800 family farms. With Hormel Foods as a partner, Applegate can share our expertise on a much wider scale."

"Applegate will continue to support labeling and transparency on genetically engineered foods, limiting the use of antibiotics in animal agriculture, and advocating for the advancement of humane standards," said Gina Asoudegan, Applegate's Senior Director of Mission.  "As a company, Applegate will continue to lead the way in searching for solutions on issues like non-GMO feed for naturally raised livestock and raising the bar on animal welfare."

Under the agreement, Applegate will operate as a separate, stand-alone subsidiary, which allows the company to continue its mission-driven focus while taking advantage of Hormel Foods' vast resources to make natural and organic meat more available and accessible to consumers.

"A growing number of consumers are choosing natural and organic products. This deal allows us to expand the breadth of our protein offerings to provide consumers more choice," said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. "The Applegate team has built a great brand, and consumers can rest assured there will not be any changes to the way Applegate meats are raised and produced. Together, we can provide a faster path to expanded offerings in this high-growth category."

The agreement is expected to close within 60 days from signing, which occurred on May 26, 2015. The purchase price is approximately $775 million, and its selling shareholders are McDonnell and Swander Pace Capital.

Credit Suisse is acting as financial advisors to Hormel Foods and Faegre Baker Daniels is serving as legal counsel. Goldman Sachs & Co. is serving as financial advisor to Applegate in connection with this transaction and Ballard Spahr LLP and Fried Frank are serving as legal counsel.

About Applegate
For more than 25 years, Applegate has been producing high-quality natural and organic hot dogs, bacon, sausages, deli meats, cheese and frozen products.  Natural can mean many things, but when Applegate says their products are natural, consumers are guaranteed that they are free of GMO ingredients and the meat inside is:

• Raised without antibiotics or hormones
• From animals fed a vegetarian or 100% grass diet and treated with humane animal standards
• Free of added chemical nitrites, nitrates or phosphates
• Free of artificial ingredients or preservatives

For more information about our products, visit http://www.applegate.com or talk with us on https://www.facebook.com/applegate or https://twitter.com/Applegate.

About Hormel Foods
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products, many of which are among the best known and trusted in the food industry. The company leverages its extensive expertise, innovation and high competencies in pork and turkey processing and marketing to bring branded, value-added products to the global marketplace. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor's (S&P) 500 Index, S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats for 2014, was named the 2013 Sustainable Supply Chain of the Year by Refrigerated & Frozen Foods magazine, and was again named one of "The 100 Best Corporate Citizens" by Corporate Responsibility Magazine for the seventh year in a row. Hormel Foods was also recognized as a 2015 Military Friendly Employer by G.I. Jobs magazine, on the 2015 Best for Vets Employers List by Military Times, and was named one of the 2015 40 Best Companies for Leaders by Chief Executive magazine. The company enjoys a strong reputation among consumers, retail grocers, foodservice and industrial customers for products highly regarded for quality, taste, nutrition, convenience and value. For more information, visit http://www.hormelfoods.com.

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SOURCE Applegate

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