Group purchases Willow Brook Foods

Willow Brook management and an investment group comprised of McClain Enterprises, Powell & Powell Milling and Springfield Underground Inc. have completed their purchase of the Willow Brook Foods subsidiary from MCMI Foods Inc.

According to a news release from the company, the sale in-cludes the Willow Brook Foods processing operation in Spring-field and the Schweigert Foods processing operation in Albert Lea, Minn. The transaction was completed Feb. 7.

"This is a great structure for future growth because each of the investors has a strategic in-terest in the company," said Mike Briggs, president of Wil-low Brook Foods.

MCMI Foods, along with Willow Brook Foods managers, originally acquired the Spring-field and Albert Lea operations from Tyson Foods in 1999. MCMI Foods has its headquarters in San Antonio, and it is a holding company that owns several food companies.

Willow Brook Foods employs more than 1,800 associates in southwest Missouri, northern Arkansas and eastern Okla-homa.

Their operations are comprised of a feed mill, turkey growing farms, a hatchery, a breeder operation, turkey slaughter facility and a further-processed facility for turkey, pork, beef and chicken.

Schweigert Foods employs more than 300 associates in Minnesota.

Their operations produce further-processed pork, beef, chicken and turkey products.

Springfield Underground Inc. owns and operates an underground storage facility in Springfield. McClain Enter-prises and Powell & Powell Milling both have turkey mil-ling and growing operations in northwest Arkansas.

In 2001, the combined live turkey pounds grown by Mc-Clain Enterprises, Powell & Powell Milling and Willow Brook Foods represented 410 million, or 5.9 percent, of the United States' turkey production, the release stated.

Willow Brook Foods will continue to market products under the Willow Brook, Gour-met Recipe, Harvest Provisions and Schweigert brand names to retail, food-service and industrial segments.