Empirical Foods

Empirical Foods

Meat processing, lean ground beef producer

Overview

Empirical Foods processes beef to produce lean ground beef and other protein products for food service and retail. It uses an in-house proprietary process that warms beef trimmings, centrifuges fat, and treats the product to kill bacteria to yield about 95% lean ground beef. They also offer boxed beef and pork, portioned steaks and roasts, and fully cooked seasoned items under brands like Noble Valley, Two Rivers Meat Co, and Dos Rios Taco Meat. They differentiate themselves by owning the technology to turn by-products into high-value protein and serving large packers, ground beef producers, fast-food chains, and grocers, with capacity expansion including a new plant in Garden City, Kansas.

About Empirical Foods

Simplify's Rating
Why Empirical Foods is rated
B-
Rated B on Competitive Edge
Rated B on Growth Potential
Rated C on Differentiation

Industries

Food & Agriculture

Industrial & Manufacturing

Consumer Goods

Company Size

201-500

Company Stage

N/A

Total Funding

N/A

Headquarters

Dakota Dunes, South Dakota

Founded

N/A

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Simplify's Take

What believers are saying

  • Garden City targets 50% more ground beef output and 250 new jobs.
  • July 16, 2026 careers page lists engineering, IT, QA, and operations openings.
  • Management says the plant reduces food loss during record-high beef prices, supporting margins.

What critics are saying

  • Lean beef margins depend on expensive cattle trimmings; 2026 beef inflation compresses profits.
  • Garden City ramp risks persist if staffing trails the April 2026 opening.
  • A renewed safety scandal would hit exports, retail accounts, and the company’s family ownership.

What makes Empirical Foods unique

  • Proprietary centrifuge process converts beef trimmings into 95% lean ground beef.
  • Garden City, Kansas plant opened April 8, 2026, adding 280,000 square feet.
  • Noble Valley, Two Rivers Meat Co., and Dos Rios broaden customer and channel reach.

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Benefits

Flexible Work Hours

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