Just Bare® Delivers $1 Billion in Annual Retail Sales as Pilgrim’s Accelerates Momentum in Prepared Foods
Rhea-AI Summary
Pilgrim’s (NASDAQ: PPC) said Just Bare reached $1 billion in annual retail sales in 2025 after growing 45% year-over-year, driven by distribution gains and category leadership. The frozen fully cooked portfolio now generates more than $750 million annually and market share rose from 1% to 13% in three years.
JBS, majority shareholder, is expanding capacity with a new prepared chicken facility in Walker County, GA, to support continued demand and the brand’s innovation roadmap.
Positive
- Annual sales exceeded $1 billion in 2025
- Sales growth of 45% year-over-year
- Frozen fully cooked portfolio > $750 million annual sales
- Market share expanded from 1% to 13% in three years
- Distribution growth across mass, club and grocery channels
Negative
- Concentration in prepared/frozen fully cooked segment may pressure diversification
- Capital spend: new Walker County, GA facility implies near-term investment needs
News Market Reaction – PPC
On the day this news was published, PPC declined 2.99%, reflecting a moderate negative market reaction.
Data tracked by StockTitan Argus on the day of publication.
Key Figures
Historical Context
| Date | Event | Sentiment | 24h Move | Catalyst |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Feb 11 | Full-year 2025 earnings | Positive | +1.0% | Reported $18.5B 2025 net sales, $1.1B net income and strong EBITDA. |
| Jan 20 | Earnings call notice | Neutral | -0.9% | Announced schedule for Q4 and full-year 2025 earnings release and call. |
| Oct 29 | Q3 2025 earnings | Positive | +0.4% | Posted Q3 2025 net sales $4.76B with strong operating income and EBITDA. |
| Oct 08 | Q3 call notice | Neutral | -0.2% | Set timing and access details for upcoming Q3 2025 earnings call. |
24h Move is the share-price change in the day after each event; other market factors may also have contributed.
Recent earnings reports with solid fundamentals have seen modest positive price reactions, while scheduling/housekeeping announcements around earnings have produced small, mixed moves.
Over the last few months, Pilgrim’s Pride has highlighted steady growth and strong profitability. Q3 and full-year 2025 results showed multi-billion-dollar net sales, healthy margins, and significant special dividends, with U.S. Prepared Foods and Just Bare® contributing meaningfully. Earnings-day releases on Oct 29, 2025 and Feb 11, 2026 led to modest gains, while earnings call notices in Oct 2025 and Jan 2026 prompted small declines. Today’s Just Bare® update reinforces that prepared foods and branded growth remain central to PPC’s narrative.
AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.
GREELEY, Colo., Feb. 19, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Just Bare®, the fast-growing chicken brand within the Pilgrim’s (NASDAQ: PPC) prepared foods portfolio, has surpassed
“Crossing the
In 2025, Just Bare delivered strong market share gains and expanded significantly across major retailers. The brand now holds the #1 position in sales pace within the fully cooked chicken category and has grown its market share from
“The success of Just Bare reflects the scale, innovation pipeline, and operational strength that comes with being part of the global JBS family,” said Sergio Nahuz, Head of Prepared Foods. “Our collective investment in people, plants, and brands is enabling faster innovation and sustained superior performance.”
Just Bare’s acceleration reinforces the long-term strategy of JBS, majority shareholder of Pilgrim’s, to grow its value-added and prepared foods capabilities globally. A new prepared chicken facility is currently being built in Walker County, Ga. – to produce Just Bare products and meet rising demand for high-quality, convenient protein solutions.
This week, JBS presented an in-depth look of Just Bare’s growth, innovation roadmap, and category leadership during its 2026 CAGNY presentation, illustrating how the brand is accelerating the expansion and strength of the prepared foods business across the JBS portfolio.
About Just Bare®
Just Bare® provides premium fresh and frozen chicken made from all-natural chicken raised with no antibiotics, no additives, and no preservatives. The brand is built on a promise of simplicity, quality, and transparency—delivering chicken consumers can feel confident serving at home. From fresh, case-ready products to its expanding Oven Roasted and Lightly Breaded platforms, Just Bare offers families a flavorful, trustworthy alternative to traditional frozen chicken, rooted in its belief that “Bare is Better™.”
About Pilgrim’s Pride
Pilgrim’s employs approximately 63,000 people and operates protein processing plants and prepared-foods facilities in 14 states, Puerto Rico, Mexico, the U.K, the Republic of Ireland and continental Europe. The Company’s primary distribution is through retailers and foodservice distributors. For more information, please visit www.pilgrims.com.
About JBS USA
JBS USA is a leading global food company providing diversified, high-quality products to customers in approximately 100 countries on six continents. Headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, the company produces meat and poultry products, a portfolio of recognized brands and innovative premium foods. JBS USA is also a majority shareholder of Pilgrim’s, the largest poultry producer in the world. Visit jbsfoodsgroup.com to learn more.
Media Contact:
Nikki Richardson
JBS USA/Pilgrim’s Communications
nikki.richardson@jbssa.com
