“American consumers are buying beef in new ways , whether it is directly from local farms, ranches or online through e-commerce,” says Mark Eisele, president-elect of the National Cattlemen’s Beef Association in response to a new proposed bill in May 2023 to expand direct-to-consumer sales of beef and poultry.
Buying online is growing, and FPL Food LLC in Augusta, Ga., has been leaning into this trend while also selling large volumes of beef to retail stores, foodservice and food manufacturing partners. Founder, Francois Leger, first purchased the processing facility in Augusta in 2004, and eventually grew the business that now includes a grinding facility in Thomasville, Ga., as well as 3,500 acres of farmland raising genetically certified Angus and Wagyu cattle. The beef producer has three facilities and farms, with more than 1,500 employees.