Simmons Foods

Tune in to the Univision channel this season for holiday messages from our team members across our River Valley facilities. We’re grateful for the great work they do every day!    #SimmonsFoods #SimmonsStrong

This year, Simmons celebrated 75 years in our communities with the 75 Acts of Kindness campaign, uniting team members to give back in meaningful ways. From hosting first responders for an appreciation lunch to packing snack packs and organizing school supply drives, just to name a few, the impact has been remarkable.     Through initiatives like the Community Ambassador Program, team members have stepped up to support local needs and create lasting change. Learn more about how Simmons is making a difference below! #SimmonsFood #SimmonsStrong #Simmons75 #KeepingitRealatSimmons

Prepared Foods South West City team members recently hosted a Christmas celebration where Santa and his elves handed out toys and everyone enjoyed hot chocolate and cookies. Families took pictures with Santa to remember the day.     It was a great way to spread joy and celebrate the season together!    #SimmonsFood #SimmonsStrong 

Last week, we celebrated the retirement of Joel Sappenfield, President of Simmons Prepared Foods. Joel’s family, colleagues, the Executive Leadership Team, and Mark Simmons, Chairman, were all there to thank him for his outstanding service and wish him well as he embarks on this next chapter.     Joel joined Simmons Foods in 2021, bringing with him a wealth of industry experience and a commitment to our values. Under his leadership, he helped Simmons Prepared Foods rank among the top 15 poultry producers in the United States. With a career spanning over three decades, from his early days at Tyson Foods to serving as President of Cobb-Vantress, Joel has left an enduring difference on the poultry industry. His expertise, dedication, and leadership have made a lasting impact on Simmons and beyond.     We are grateful for everything Joel has contributed and wish him a retirement filled with joy, fun, and time with family.      #SimmonsFoods #SimmonsStrong 

Join us in celebrating the graduation of the sixth class of our Career Leadership Program! Over the past six months, Class 6 participated in an intensive rotational development program, gaining hands-on experience across all areas of Simmons and receiving comprehensive leadership training. This program has equipped them to step into key roles within our Simmons family. Here’s a look at the impact of Class 6:  • 12,768 Hours of Operations Rotations  • 4,368 Hours of Business Development  • 2,184 Hours of Leadership Development    Andrew Stayer, Annabelle Zellers, Carley Westbrook, Charles Schuchardt, Cole Geyer, Cory Ault, Courtney Edwards, Destiny Ruiz, Gerardo Moreira, Hannah Bossler, Jeremy Fretueg, Karaline McConnell, Makenna Pinkerton, Montana Burke, Parker Rickansrud, Reid Brewer, Rylee Rogers, Tomeka Cozart, Zach Wetzler

Simmons hosted its third Nextwork event recently at the Home Office, giving team members a chance to connect, learn, and explore career development opportunities at Simmons Foods. The event included discussions on our Career Leadership Program, Development Day highlights, and advice from Talent Acquisition on applying for internal roles.     A career panel featured insights from Yancy S., Senior Vice President of Operations, Simmons Animal Nutrition, Nathan Hudson, CPA, Vice President of Strategy Margin Management, Simmons Animal Nutrition, and Shannon Harrison, Vice President of Quality Assurance. These leaders shared their experiences and career journeys, encouraging team members to focus on their personal and professional growth.      #SimmonsFoods #SimmonsStrong 

Prepared Foods South West City presented a $10,000 donation this fall to McDonald County Schools to help stock food pantries across the district. This donation will directly support students in need, ensuring they have access to food over the weekends when it’s needed most.    Following the check presentation, team members had the opportunity to visit the McDonald County High School pantry and see firsthand how this contribution will positively impact students at the school.     #SimmonsFoods #SimmonsStrong #KeepingitRealatSimmons

Kenny Raney, Vice President, Commodity Sales and Logistics, and Chris Gonzales, Senior Manager, Sustainability, recently attended the KFC Poultry Sustainability Summit in Dubai. The summit offered a valuable opportunity to discuss how Simmons can further assist our customers in reaching their sustainability objectives. With 2025 on the horizon, we are excited about the possibilities ahead and the impact we can make together.    #SimmonsFoods #SimmonsStrong

We’re proud to celebrate two team members who recently were named Team Member of the Month at their respective facilities:     Michael Collingsworth, a Freezer and Sanitation Tech at Prepared Foods Van Buren Cook, was named Team Member of the Month and recognized for his 14 years of dedicated service to Simmons Foods.      Cody Olsen, a Maintenance Supervisor with nearly 19 years of service, was named Team Member of the Month at Prepared Foods Southwest City. His team members nominated him for his problem-solving, teamwork, and commitment to Simmons values.      Join us in celebrating Michael and Cody for their contributions to Simmons Foods! #SimmonsFoods #SimmonsStrong

The Simmons Accounting and Finance Team recently provided Thanksgiving Baskets to Havenwood, a local organization dedicated to empowering single mothers and their children to move from crisis to self-sufficiency. Havenwood’s mission is to break generational cycles by offering a safe environment and resources to help families thrive.      In October, the team coordinated with Havenwood and learned of a key need: Thanksgiving baskets with all the essentials for a festive meal. The team assembled 14 baskets - one for each family at Havenwood. Each basket included Thanksgiving meal staples, blankets, fall decorations, and other comfort items.      Along with the baskets, they also provided over 300 pounds of Simmons Chicken to support the organization over the coming months.     #SimmonsFoods #SimmonsStrong #KeepingitRealatSimmons