Cargill Forges Beef Packers Inc.

NEW YORK - Apr 4/06 - SNS -- Cargill Meat Solutions has completed its acquisition of Beef Packers, Inc., Fresno Meat Co., RPM Beef, Inc. and King-O-Meat, Inc. Beef Packers, Fresno Meat, RPM Beef and King-O-Meat. The companies will be combined under one name: Beef Packers, Inc.

Derek Kennedy, who had been lead controller with Cargill Meat Solutions in Wichita, Kan., has been named transition leader. He will run the business with Dennis Roth, who had been president of Beef Packers, Inc., and will now be general manager of the company.

As part of the transaction, the Ore-Cal Transportation business will not be acquired, and will be dissolved. J.B. Hunt will handle refrigerated transportation for Beef Packers, Inc. HR Livestock Transportation, Inc. will transport cattle to the plant.

Two others from Cargill will move to the Fresno area. Celie Myers, who had been technical services specification superintendent at Cargill Taylor Beef in Wyalusing, Pa., will be plant operations manager in Fresno. John Nash, who had been an accounting manager in Wyalusing, will join the Beef Packers, Inc. team as controller.