JBS N.V.
JBS N.V. is a Brazilian-founded multinational protein and food-processing group with operations spanning beef, pork, poultry, fish, sheep, leather, collagen, logistics, biodiesel, fertilizers, and other food-related businesses.
Last updated October 14, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile since Oct 28, 2026.
Overview
JBS N.V. is the international corporate identity associated with JBS, a Brazilian-founded multinational food and animal-protein group headquartered in São Paulo and Amsterdam. The company began in 1953 when rancher José Batista Sobrinho established a small slaughterhouse in Anápolis, Goiás. Its initials, JBS, derive from the founder's name. Early growth benefited from the expansion of Brasília, which created demand for meat close to the company's Goiás base. During the late 1960s and the 1980s, JBS expanded through additional slaughterhouses and acquisitions of Brazilian meat processors. This domestic consolidation created the operating scale that later supported its international expansion. JBS became publicly traded in 2007 and received substantial financial support from Brazil's development bank, BNDES, during the period in which it was building an international platform. Its most consequential early overseas transaction was the 2007 acquisition of Swift & Company in the United States. The acquired business became JBS USA and gave the group a major position in American beef and pork. JBS subsequently expanded into poultry through its 2010 acquisition of a controlling stake in Pilgrim's Pride, and it added further North American capacity through the purchase of XL Foods' Canadian operations in 2013 and other transactions. The group also acquired the U.S. pork business of Cargill in 2015 and bought poultry operations in Mexico and Brazil from Tyson Foods. The company is principally known for animal-protein processing. Its activities include cattle slaughter and beef processing, pork, poultry, fish, sheep, prepared foods, and exports. Recognized brands and operating businesses associated with the group include Swift, Seara, Pilgrim's, Moy Park, and JBS USA, although the portfolio and corporate structure have changed over time. JBS also operates or has operated businesses in leather through JBS Couros, collagen and gelatin through businesses including NovaProm and Genu-in, as well as natural casings, metal packaging, transportation, biodiesel, fertilizers, hygiene and beauty products, fresh pasta, animal feed, and related industrial inputs. This diversification allows the group to profit from multiple parts of the animal and food-processing value chain rather than relying solely on packaged meat. By 2025, the company was described as having more than 250 production facilities worldwide and selling products in about 180 countries. Its production network is concentrated in major beef-producing regions such as Brazil, the United States, and Australia, while export and distribution activities reach global markets. JBS has been described as the world's largest meat processor and one of the largest animal-protein suppliers. JBS's growth has also made it a frequent subject of regulatory, labor, environmental, food-safety, and corporate-governance scrutiny. In Brazil, investigations have involved alleged corruption, financing advantages, and the conduct of meat inspectors. Environmental criticism has focused on cattle supply chains allegedly linked to illegal Amazon deforestation, while the company denies wrongdoing and says it has adopted compliance measures. During the COVID-19 pandemic, several facilities experienced serious outbreaks, drawing criticism over workplace-safety practices. In 2021, a ransomware attack temporarily disrupted operations in Australia, Canada, and the United States; JBS said it paid an $11 million Bitcoin ransom to end the incident. The group has also invested in alternative proteins, including a reported $100 million investment in cultured-meat producer BioTech Foods in 2021.
History
JBS traces its origins to 1953, when José Batista Sobrinho founded a small slaughterhouse in Anápolis, in the Brazilian state of Goiás. The business was positioned near an emerging market created by the construction and development of Brasília. As demand for beef increased, the company expanded its slaughtering activities. In the late 1960s it began acquiring and operating additional facilities, and in the 1980s it accelerated its consolidation of Brazil's fragmented meat-processing industry. The domestic acquisition strategy created a large cattle-processing platform. JBS later used that platform to pursue international expansion, moving from a Brazilian beef company toward a diversified global protein group. It became publicly traded in 2007, the same year it received major investment from BNDES. Also in 2007, it completed the acquisition of Swift & Company for $225 million. The transaction established JBS USA and gave JBS entry into large-scale U.S. beef and pork processing. JBS broadened its South American footprint through the 2009 acquisition of Grupo Bertin's food operations. In North America, it acquired a controlling interest in Pilgrim's Pride in 2010, purchased the principal Canadian operations of XL Foods in 2013, and pursued additional poultry and prepared-meat opportunities. Pilgrim's made an unsolicited $5.6 billion offer for Hillshire Brands in 2014, although Tyson Foods ultimately became the successful acquirer of Hillshire. JBS purchased Tyson's Mexican and Brazilian poultry subsidiaries for $575 million in 2014 and acquired Cargill's U.S. pork business for $1.45 billion in 2015. The company also created a Brazilian compliance-director board during 2015. In 2016, JBS proposed reorganizing its international activities under JBS Foods International and pursuing a U.S. IPO. The plan reflected the group's presence on several continents, but legal and governance problems soon complicated the project. In 2017, JBS was drawn into Brazilian investigations involving alleged corruption in the meat-inspection system, possible improper benefits connected with BNDES financing, and disclosures by executives of J&F Investimentos concerning political payments. These events caused market disruption, delayed the proposed IPO, and led to a major leniency settlement by J&F. The group also faced criticism from Brazilian environmental authorities over alleged purchases from cattle operations linked to illegal Amazon deforestation. JBS denied wrongdoing and described its compliance and supply-chain controls as ongoing responses to such risks. The group continued to expand and diversify. In 2017 it appointed Alfred Almanza, formerly associated with the U.S. Department of Agriculture's food-safety leadership, as global head of food safety. In 2018, JBS received $22.3 million from a U.S. Department of Agriculture farm bailout program. During the COVID-19 pandemic, outbreaks at processing facilities in the United States and Canada caused temporary closures, worker deaths, production interruptions, and criticism from employees and public-health authorities. JBS disputed claims that workers were pressured to work while sick and introduced or publicized measures intended to maintain operations and support workers. In May and June 2021, a ransomware attack forced temporary shutdowns across portions of JBS's Australian, Canadian, and U.S. operations. The incident affected thousands of workers and disrupted slaughtering and processing. Chief executive Andre Nogueira said the company paid an $11 million ransom in Bitcoin to reduce the risk of prolonged disruption. The same year, JBS invested $100 million in cultured-meat company BioTech Foods, signaling an interest in alternative proteins alongside its conventional meat operations. By 2025, JBS was described as operating more than 250 production facilities worldwide and serving consumers in about 180 countries. Its portfolio covered beef, pork, poultry, fish, sheep, prepared foods, leather, collagen, gelatin, packaging, transportation, biodiesel, fertilizer, hygiene products, and related businesses. The group's scale makes it a leading global protein processor, while its environmental, labor, food-safety, cyber-security, and corporate-governance record remains central to its public profile.
- 2021
Ransomware attack
[1]A cyberattack temporarily disrupted operations in Australia, Canada, and the United States.
- 2020
COVID-19 disruptions at processing plants
[1]Outbreaks at facilities in North America caused temporary closures and major public-health scrutiny.
- 2017
Brazilian investigations and leniency settlement
[1]JBS and its controlling group faced corruption, financing, meat-inspection, and environmental investigations.
- 2016
JBS Foods International IPO plan announced
[1]The group announced a proposed reorganization and U.S. IPO for its international operations.
- 2015
Cargill U.S. pork business acquired
[1]JBS purchased Cargill's U.S. pork operations for $1.45 billion.
- 2013
Canadian beef operations added
[1]JBS USA acquired the main Canadian operations of XL Foods, including the Lakeside beef plant in Alberta.
- 2010
Entry into major poultry ownership
[1]JBS acquired 64% of Pilgrim's Pride, expanding its protein portfolio into U.S. poultry.
- 2009
Grupo Bertin food operations acquired
[1]The transaction strengthened JBS's position as a leading Brazilian and global beef processor.
- 2007
Public listing and Swift acquisition
[1]JBS became publicly traded and acquired Swift & Company, creating its JBS USA platform.
- 1953
Company founded in Goiás
[1]José Batista Sobrinho established the slaughterhouse business that became JBS in Anápolis, Brazil.
Products and positioning
A vertically integrated global protein and food-processing group built around scale, international production, branded meat products, by-product utilization, and supply-chain diversification.
Animal protein · 1953
Beef
Beef is JBS's historical core business. The group operates cattle slaughtering, fabrication, processing, packaging, and export facilities in major producing countries including Brazil, the United States, and Australia. Products range from commodity cuts and frozen meat to branded and prepared beef sold through retail, food-service, and international channels.
Animal protein · 2007
Pork
JBS entered the U.S. pork market substantially through the Swift acquisition and later expanded through the purchase of Cargill's U.S. pork business. Its pork activities include slaughtering, fresh and frozen cuts, processed products, and export-oriented production operated through JBS USA and related businesses.
Animal protein · 2010
Poultry
Poultry became a major JBS segment through its controlling investment in Pilgrim's Pride and subsequent operations associated with Seara and Moy Park. The portfolio covers chicken production, processing, prepared foods, and branded products distributed in North American, European, Brazilian, and other markets.
Animal by-products
Leather and collagen
JBS uses animal-processing by-products in leather, collagen, gelatin, and natural-casing businesses. JBS Couros focuses on leather, while NovaProm and Genu-in are associated with bovine collagen, collagen peptides, and gelatin for industrial, food, and nutraceutical applications.
Food products
Prepared and convenience foods
The group also sells prepared and convenience-oriented food products through businesses and brands associated with its poultry, pork, beef, and fresh-pasta operations. These activities extend JBS beyond primary meat processing into branded consumer and food-service products.
Related services and products
Industrial and logistics businesses
JBS's broader portfolio includes transportation, refrigerated logistics, metal cans and aerosols, biodiesel, organic-waste fertilizers, animal feed, hygiene and beauty products, pharmaceutical inputs, and trading activities. These businesses support or monetize the group's production and distribution ecosystem.
Controversies
2020
COVID-19 workplace outbreaks
Several JBS facilities in the United States and Canada reported large COVID-19 outbreaks, worker deaths, temporary closures, and allegations concerning workplace practices. The company disputed claims that employees were pressured to work while sick.
2020
Family files wrongful-death lawsuit against JBS plant
The family of Enock Benjamin filed a lawsuit against the JBS Beef Plant and JBS and its affiliates, alleging the plant failed to protect employees from COVID-19 and that its negligence led to Benjamin’s wrongful death. The allegations are not presented as a court determination.
2017
Brazilian meat-inspection investigation
Brazilian police investigated alleged bribery involving food-sanitation inspectors and meat processors. JBS was among the companies examined, denied wrongdoing, and said it had taken action concerning an implicated employee.
2017
Corruption and political-payment disclosures
Executives of J&F Investimentos disclosed alleged payments to Brazilian politicians, producing a major corporate and political crisis. J&F later agreed to a large leniency settlement with Brazilian authorities.
2017
Amazon deforestation supply-chain allegations
Brazilian environmental authorities accused JBS of buying cattle linked to farms involved in illegal Amazon deforestation. JBS denied wrongdoing and faced continuing scrutiny over traceability and supplier controls.
Brand decisions
2021
Pay ransomware demandOtherBackground
A cyberattack had shut or disrupted operations in several major countries.
Action taken
JBS paid an $11 million ransom in Bitcoin, according to its chief executive.
Aftermath
The payment was intended to reduce the risk of a prolonged operational outage, while the incident highlighted the vulnerability of global food infrastructure to cyberattacks.
Ransom payment. $11 million (2021)
2016
Propose JBS Foods International IPOStrategyBackground
JBS had developed a multinational operating structure and sought a possible financing and corporate-separation mechanism.
Action taken
The company announced a reorganization plan involving a U.S. IPO for its international operations.
Aftermath
Legal and governance problems in 2017 caused the proposed IPO to be delayed.
2010
Acquire control of Pilgrim's PrideM&ABackground
JBS wanted to diversify beyond beef and enter large-scale poultry production.
Action taken
JBS acquired 64% of Pilgrim's Pride.
Aftermath
The group established a major poultry platform in the United States.
Reported bid value. $800 million (2010)
2007
Acquire Swift & CompanyM&ABackground
JBS sought an international platform and access to the large U.S. beef and pork markets.
Action taken
It acquired Swift & Company and operated the business as JBS USA.
Aftermath
The transaction accelerated JBS's transformation from a Brazilian beef processor into a multinational protein group.
Acquisition price. $225 million (2007)
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
JBS restarts meat-processing plants after cyberattack[3]
Reported:
JBS began partially restarting most of its beef-processing plants in North America and Australia after a cyberattack had forced plant closures. The company said most plants would resume operations on Wednesday.
Weekdays and relative dates follow the original report; their exact calendar dates have not been verified.
Family files wrongful-death lawsuit against JBS plant[2]
Reported:
The family of Enock Benjamin filed a lawsuit against the JBS Beef Plant and JBS and its affiliates, alleging the plant failed to protect employees from COVID-19 and that its negligence led to Benjamin’s wrongful death. The allegations are not presented as a court determination.
Sources3 sources
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/jbs-nv · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled