West Liberty Foods

West Liberty Foods is a leading turkey production company in the United States, with its original and largest facility, along with its main headquarters, located in West Liberty, Iowa. While it is the largest employer in the City of West Liberty, it also has several facilities located around the country including Iowa, Illinois and Utah.

West Liberty Foods has long-standing expertise across the protein category, including turkey, beef, pork and chicken. Its facilities are equipped to handle a wide range of packaging, processing and slicing possibilities, so it can deliver protein solutions that meet any menu, retail or sales need.

West Liberty Foods was formed in 1996 under the guiding principles of the Iowa Turkey Growers Cooperative. Carrying on Iowa’s rich farming tradition, its grower/owners are committed to animal health and welfare while delivering superior-quality turkeys, a philosophy that has helped family farms grow and thrive for generations.

In 1943, Louis H. Rich purchased the West Liberty plant, then a former tomato-canning facility, to expand Rock Island Produce Company. The plant was converted to poultry production in 1946 and shifted exclusively to turkey under his sons, Norman and Martin, in 1949. It underwent its first expansion in 1960. Oscar Mayer acquired the facility in 1979 through its purchase of Louis Rich, Inc., and operated it for turkey production until selling it in 1996.

The continued success of West Liberty Foods is due to the dedication, enthusiasm and support of our grower/owners. In West Liberty, it also operates the West Liberty Foods Market and Cafe, where it serves daily lunch specials, sells a variety of meat, and serves ice cream from its recently refurbished classic ice cream bar.