History

Smithfield Foods traces its origins back to 1936, when Joseph W. Luter Sr. and his son, Joseph W. Luter Jr., founded the Smithfield Packing Company in Smithfield, Virginia. The company was established in the small town of Smithfield, which would go on to become synonymous with the Smithfield brand and its signature cured hams.

The Luter family’s venture into the meat packing business began as a small, local operation, focusing on the production and distribution of quality pork products. Over the decades that followed, the company steadily grew and expanded, leveraging its reputation for excellence to become a leading provider of processed meats not just in Virginia, but across the United States.

While the specifics of the company’s growth and evolution over the 20th century are not provided, it’s clear that Smithfield Packing Company was able to capitalize on the increasing demand for convenient, pre-packaged food products. The company’s ability to consistently deliver high-quality, flavorful pork items made it a trusted partner for retailers and consumers alike.

Today, the company that Joseph W. Luter Sr. and his son founded over 80 years ago is known as Smithfield Foods – a global food company and one of the world’s largest pork processors and hog producers. Though the scale and scope of the business has grown exponentially since those early days in Smithfield, Virginia, the company remains committed to the values of quality, innovation and customer satisfaction that have been the foundation of its success since 1936.