Wayne-Sanderson Farms has acquired Harrison Poultry, effective immediately.
With the transaction, all of Harrison Poultry’s assets transfer to Wayne-Sanderson Farms. This includes live production, hatchery, feed mill, manufacturing, production and transportation facilities and equipment that are affiliated with Harrison Poultry’s complexes in the Georgia communities of Bethlehem and Crawfordville.
"We are proud to welcome the Harrison Poultry team into the Wayne-Sanderson Farms family," said Kevin McDaniel, president and CEO of Wayne-Sanderson Farms. "We are well matched. Wayne-Sanderson Farms is known for quality people, quality farm partners and quality products, and so is Harrison Poultry. We expect the transition to be practically seamless."
Integration of the two companies will begin immediately, and Wayne-Sanderson Farms expects there to be minimal changes regarding day-to-day operations.
Details of the transaction were not disclosed.
The leadership of Wayne-Sanderson Farms began exploring the idea of the Harrison Poultry acquisition earlier in 2025 as part of its strategic growth initiative. According to a press release from Wayne-Sanderson Farms, the two companies have complementary offerings and began negotiations to finalize the sale after thorough analysis to ensure the respective operations and workplace cultures would be a good fit.
Harrison Poultry was founded by R. Harold Harrison, and has been in continuous operation since 1958. Harrison grew Harrison Poultry successfully throughout his life. The family has continued to grow the company in the years since his passing, investing millions into the rural Georgia economy.
According to information from the WATTPoultry.com Top Poultry Companies Database, Harrison Poultry is the 21st largest poultry producer in the United States, having processed 5.66 million pounds of ready-to-cook poultry on a weekly basis during the past year. The company in 2023 expanded production by 20% and added 200 employees.
"On behalf of the family of Mr. Harrison, I want to thank everyone involved in making Harrison Poultry the successful company that it is today," said Jim Skidmore, president and CEO of Harrison Poultry. "Our primary focus with this transaction from the start has been making sure this was right for our people, our farmers, and our customers. With Wayne-Sanderson Farms, we found the right partner to build on the legacy that Mr. Harrison left."
McDaniel will continue to serve as president and CEO following the transaction.
Wayne-Sanderson Farms formed in 2022 with the merger of Wayne Farms and Sanderson Farms. It is the third-largest poultry producer in the United States, having processed 148.8 million pounds of ready-to-cook poultry on a weekly basis during the past year.
BofA Securities served as exclusive financial adviser to Wayne-Sanderson Farms, BakerHostetler served as transaction counsel and Proskauer Rose served as antitrust counsel. Stephens served as financial/banking adviser to Harrison Poultry Inc., and Eversheds Sutherland served as legal counsel.
