Our Heritage - A Commitment to Quality and Innovation

The Best of Both Worlds

In February 2001, two of the turkey industry's leading companies, Jennie-O Foods, Inc., and The Turkey Store Company, merged to create a new, single company - Jennie-O Turkey Store, Inc.

Jennie-O Turkey Store offers the most extensive turkey product assortment combining  tradition and heritage with fresh premium turkey store products to create healthy, convenient, flavorful year-round meal solutions for today’s consumers.

A History of Innovation

Jennie-O Foods started in the 1940’s as a vision of the Minnesota-native entrepreneur and part-time turkey grower, Earl B. Olson, who purchased his first turkey processing plant in 1949 in Willmar, Minnesota. Throughout the decades, the company named after Earl’s daughter, Jennifer, grew and thrived. Jennie-O Foods was acquired by Hormel Foods Corporation in 1986.

In 1922, Wallace Jerome, founder of The Turkey Store Company, started the business of raising turkeys when he was just 13 years old. He purchased a three-story barn in 1941 that was used for all stages of turkey production. In 1950, he purchased and equipped his first full-scale turkey processing plant. The Turkey Store Company was acquired by Hormel Foods Corporation in 2001 and merged with Jennie-O Foods becoming Jennie-O Turkey Store.

What began as the visions of two entrepreneurs has turned into one of the world’s largest processors and marketers of turkey products.

A Proud Heritage, An Exciting Future

Such a rich history steeped in the industry itself has infused Jennie-O Turkey Store products with a strong reputation for quality, flavor, health and convenience—and resulted in the most extensive line of branded turkey products available. Jennie-O Turkey Store® looks forward to continued efforts and innovation to help ensure that their customers enjoy great turkey whenever and however they want.