SMITHFIELD, Va., Oct. 12, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smithfield Foods, Inc. (NYSE:SFD) today announced that it has named Michael E. Brown president and chief operating officer of Farmland Foods, Inc., effective October 4, 2010. Farmland is a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods, headquartered in Kansas City, Missouri.
Mr. Brown previously served as president of Armour-Eckrich, LLC since 2008 and has nearly 30 years of experience in the food industry. He will be responsible for leading all aspects of the business, including sales and marketing, operations, quality, food safety, finance and accounting, human resources, and procurement. Mr. Brown will report to George H. Richter, president and chief operating officer of the Pork Group.
"Mike is a tremendous asset to this organization and I am confident that his experience will allow the company to achieve its top objectives of margin expansion and brand growth. We congratulate Mike on his new position and look forward to his leadership role at Farmland," said Mr. Richter.
Mr. Brown graduated from the University of Missouri in 1981 with a Bachelor of Arts in Education and joined Swift and Company as a sales representative in Kansas City. Swift was later acquired by ConAgra Foods, where he held positions of increasing responsibility in sales and general management of various business channels and distribution.
About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is the world's largest pork processor and hog producer, with revenues exceeding $11 billion in fiscal 2010. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories. From national brands and regional powerhouses in the United States to some of the best-known European brands, Smithfield Foods products are prized by retail, foodservice, and deli customers alike. For more information, visit
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CONTACT: Smithfield Foods, Inc. Keira Lombardo (757) 365-3050 keiralombardo@smithfieldfoods.com