Detroit Meat Processor E.W. Grobbel Acquires Freirich Foods
Detroit, Mich.-based meat processor E.W. Grobbel Sons Inc. has agreed to acquire certain assets of Freirich Foods Inc. in Salisbury, N.C., according to local news outlets. Freirich — which filed for bankruptcy in March 2024 — was founded in 1921 in Long Island, N.Y., and produced corned beef, pastrami, roast beef and other deli meats.
Terms of the deal were not disclosed, the report noted.
Freirich reportedly has claimed more of its corned beef is eaten on St. Patrick’s Day in the U.S. than any other brand, and its products are sold through various grocery chains and clubstores. However, last holiday season, the company lost $7 million worth of corned beef (about 1.2 million pounds) in the midst of the St. Patrick’s Day selling season, when a third-party cold storage facility mishandled the products, which then spoiled. That led Freirich to file for bankruptcy, yet claiming it was solvent and profitable until the incident occurred, and it would remain in operation while going through the bankruptcy process.
The current news report said production of Freirich’s products would transition to Grobbel’s facilities in Detroit and St. Clair Shores, Mich. — the St. Clair Shores facility is the former Alexander & Hornung (and Perdue Premium Meat Co.) plant that Grobbel acquired in January 2024.
The Freirich recipes, standards and flavors will remain in place as they are, the company said in the report. Meanwhile, Paul Bardinas, CEO of Freirich and fourth-generation member of the founding family, will continue to be closely involved through the transition and beyond, the news report said.
