About Conti

Continental Grain Company (Conti) is a privately-owned global investor, owner, and operator of companies with more than 200 years of history across the food and agribusiness spectrum. We seek to create long-term value by applying deep industry knowledge, capital, and talent to businesses ranging from established market leaders to promising innovators. We build platforms that leverage our strategic expertise in food production, processing, and distribution to source proprietary deals, working alongside trusted partners and supporting strong management teams. We bring a long-term ownership mindset, concentrating on investment and operating plans that seek to create enduring value and a sustainable, efficient, and nutritional food supply chain. Conti brings people, ideas and resources together to build the businesses that will feed the world.

Our history & heritage

Our history & heritage

Early Years in Europe, Planting Seeds of Growth

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1813

Simon Fribourg founds a small grain-trading firm in Arlon, France (now Belgium).

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1848

When Belgium is struck by famine, Simon Fribourg’s son, Michel, makes the perilous trip to Bessarabia (now Romania) carrying sacks of gold to buy grain to be shipped back home.

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1890

With trade expanding in Europe, Arthur Fribourg establishes operations in Antwerp. Partnering with his father and brother, he also builds flour mills in Belgium and Luxembourg.

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1919

As normalcy returns after the First World War, brothers Jules and René Fribourg start Compagnie Continentale d’Importation (CCI) in Antwerp and later Paris. CCI will grow into a trading firm spanning Europe and Asia.

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1813-img
1813

Simon Fribourg founds a small grain-trading firm in Arlon, France (now Belgium).

Logo-Icon
1848-image
1848

When Belgium is struck by famine, Simon Fribourg’s son, Michel, makes the perilous trip to Bessarabia (now Romania) carrying sacks of gold to buy grain to be shipped back home.

Logo-Icon
1890-image
1890

With trade expanding in Europe, Arthur Fribourg establishes operations in Antwerp. Partnering with his father and brother, he also builds flour mills in Belgium and Luxembourg.

Logo-Icon
paris-1920s-1
1919

As normalcy returns after the First World War, brothers Jules and René Fribourg start Compagnie Continentale d’Importation (CCI) in Antwerp and later Paris. CCI will grow into a trading firm spanning Europe and Asia.

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Opportunity Emerging in the U.S.

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1921

With the Midwestern U.S. emerging as a global grain powerhouse, Jules opens Continental Grain Company, with a seat on the Chicago Board of Trade and an office in New York City.

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30684737582_f9ab6470d9_b
1930

Continental Grain expands its capacity to export grain from the U.S. to global markets, building a network of grain elevators and terminals.

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1940-image
1940

As the Nazi advance threatens Europe, the Fribourg family emigrates to the U.S. Their circuitous route takes them from Lisbon to Santo Domingo aboard a Continental Grain freighter, before reaching New York.

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2
1945

Now led by Michel Fribourg and headquartered in New York City, Continental Grain is emerging as one of the largest private grain companies, whose processing, storage and transport network extends from farmers to consumers around the world.

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1
1921

With the Midwestern U.S. emerging as a global grain powerhouse, Jules opens Continental Grain Company, with a seat on the Chicago Board of Trade and an office in New York City.

Logo-Icon
30684737582_f9ab6470d9_b
1930

Continental Grain expands its capacity to export grain from the U.S. to global markets, building a network of grain elevators and terminals.

Logo-Icon
1940-image
1940

As the Nazi advance threatens Europe, the Fribourg family emigrates to the U.S. Their circuitous route takes them from Lisbon to Santo Domingo aboard a Continental Grain freighter, before reaching New York.

Logo-Icon
2
1945

Now led by Michel Fribourg and headquartered in New York City, Continental Grain is emerging as one of the largest private grain companies, whose processing, storage and transport network extends from farmers to consumers around the world.

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Map.png

Reaching New Markets, Diversifying Businesses

Soviet-grain-deal
1964

When the Soviet Union’s wheat harvest failed, Continental Grain became the first U.S. firm to export grain to the U.S.S.R., providing 1 million metric tons of wheat to alleviate the crisis.

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3
1965

Setting the stage for its expansion into the poultry industry, Continental Grain acquires a majority stake in Allied Mills, a producer of livestock feed and fresh poultry.

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1978

Continental Grain purchases Compañía Algodonera Paraguay S.A. (CAPSA), known today as ContiParaguay. It is our longest held operation in Latin America.

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CCTI-1
1981

The first foreign-owned feed mill in China is opened by Continental Grain in a joint venture with Charoen Pokphand, paving the way for further expansion into China.

Business License Number 0001 for overseas investment in China, granted in 1981.

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Board-of-Directors
1982

Continental Grain establishes an independent Board of Directors, including Ron Daniel, Morton Sosland, Arthur Liman, Henry Kissinger, James Wolfensohn, and Olivier Wormser as founding members.

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PaulFribourg_Syngenta_BoardofDirectors-1
1997

After serving in a variety of roles at the company since 1976, Paul Fribourg is named Chairman and CEO, becoming the 6th generation of the Fribourg family to lead Continental Grain.

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4
1998

Continental Grain merges its hog farming operations into Premium Standard Farms. After a series of mergers, the business will become part of the leading integrated pork company in the U.S., Smithfield Foods.

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Soviet-grain-deal
1964

When the Soviet Union’s wheat harvest failed, Continental Grain became the first U.S. firm to export grain to the U.S.S.R., providing 1 million metric tons of wheat to alleviate the crisis.

Logo-Icon
3
1965

Setting the stage for its expansion into the poultry industry, Continental Grain acquires a majority stake in Allied Mills, a producer of livestock feed and fresh poultry.

Logo-Icon
ADD-CONTIPARAGUAY-PHOTO-1
1978

Continental Grain purchases Compañía Algodonera Paraguay S.A. (CAPSA), known today as ContiParaguay. It is our longest held operation in Latin America.

Logo-Icon
CCTI-1
1981

The first foreign-owned feed mill in China is opened by Continental Grain in a joint venture with Charoen Pokphand, paving the way for further expansion into China.

Business License Number 0001 for overseas investment in China, granted in 1981.

Logo-Icon
Board-of-Directors
1982

Continental Grain establishes an independent Board of Directors, including Ron Daniel, Morton Sosland, Arthur Liman, Henry Kissinger, James Wolfensohn, and Olivier Wormser as founding members.

Logo-Icon
PaulFribourg_Syngenta_BoardofDirectors-1
1997

After serving in a variety of roles at the company since 1976, Paul Fribourg is named Chairman and CEO, becoming the 6th generation of the Fribourg family to lead Continental Grain.

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4
1998

Continental Grain merges its hog farming operations into Premium Standard Farms. After a series of mergers, the business will become part of the leading integrated pork company in the U.S., Smithfield Foods.

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Focus.png

Sharpening the Strategic Focus

Conti-Group-1
1999

Launching a new era, the worldwide commodity marketing business is sold, and Continental Grain is reorganized as a holding company so each business can function more independently.

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waynefarms2000
2000

Wayne Farms LLC, which includes Continental Grain’s poultry business, is established as a standalone entity and will become one of the largest poultry producers in the U.S.

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2013-image
2005

Continental Grain and Smithfield Foods combine their cattle feeding businesses to create Five Rivers Ranch, which is eventually sold to JBS S.A.

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Conti-Group-1
1999

Launching a new era, the worldwide commodity marketing business is sold, and Continental Grain is reorganized as a holding company so each business can function more independently.

Logo-Icon
waynefarms2000
2000

Wayne Farms LLC, which includes Continental Grain’s poultry business, is established as a standalone entity and will become one of the largest poultry producers in the U.S.

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2013-image
2005

Continental Grain and Smithfield Foods combine their cattle feeding businesses to create Five Rivers Ranch, which is eventually sold to JBS S.A.

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Transitioning to Investment Holding Company, Maintaining Strategic Focus

Arlon
2008

Continental Grain creates an investment arm to focus on building businesses and backing strong management teams within the food and agriculture space globally. Conti also supports the team behind Monarch Alternative Capital, forming a new partnership with the distressed debt firm.

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shutterstock_1488264503
2009

Conti begins an official partnership with Rabobank, the world’s leading food and agriculture commercial bank, to invest together in businesses within the food and ag space.

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burger-king-2
2010

Continental Grain partners with 3G Capital, a leading Brazilian investment group, in the acquisition of Burger King, building on a decades-long relationship.

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WH-Smithfield
2013

The sale of Smithfield Foods to WH Group marks Conti’s exit from the pork business.

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Impossible-Foods-burger
2016

An investment in Impossible Foods marks Conti’s first direct venture investment and the launch of its venture strategy through an innovation focused division called Conti Ventures.

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35358639_1760544954013463_7985963079517077504_o
2017

When HOOPP invests in Wayne Farms, a new long-term partnership between HOOPP and Conti is formed. 

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Bunge-North-America-Headquarters-Offices_5203_1000x667
2018

Conti takes a stake in Bunge, a publicly traded agribusiness company, and works with the management team to increase shareholder value.

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Conti-2022-Grid-4
2022

Conti formalizes a new business strategy, called third party platforms, supporting young entrepreneurs and managers who have a specialized view in their field. Monarch, Boulder Food Group, Garnett Station Partners and Irenic Capital Management all form part of this strategy.  

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WSF-Timeline
2022

Wayne Farms and Sanderson Farms merge to form Wayne-Sanderson Farms, a joint venture between Conti and Cargill and the transformation of Conti’s six decades of operating in the chicken industry. Wayne-Sanderson Farms is the third largest vertically integrated poultry producer in the U.S., with annual revenue exceeding $7 billion.

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Arlon
2008

Continental Grain creates an investment arm to focus on building businesses and backing strong management teams within the food and agriculture space globally. Conti also supports the team behind Monarch Alternative Capital, forming a new partnership with the distressed debt firm.

Logo-Icon
shutterstock_1488264503
2009

Conti begins an official partnership with Rabobank, the world’s leading food and agriculture commercial bank, to invest together in businesses within the food and ag space.

Logo-Icon
burger-king-2
2010

Continental Grain partners with 3G Capital, a leading Brazilian investment group, in the acquisition of Burger King, building on a decades-long relationship.

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WH-Smithfield
2013

The sale of Smithfield Foods to WH Group marks Conti’s exit from the pork business.

Logo-Icon
Impossible-Foods-burger
2016

An investment in Impossible Foods marks Conti’s first direct venture investment and the launch of its venture strategy through an innovation focused division called Conti Ventures.

Logo-Icon
35358639_1760544954013463_7985963079517077504_o
2017

When HOOPP invests in Wayne Farms, a new long-term partnership between HOOPP and Conti is formed. 

Logo-Icon
Bunge-North-America-Headquarters-Offices_5203_1000x667
2018

Conti takes a stake in Bunge, a publicly traded agribusiness company, and works with the management team to increase shareholder value.

Logo-Icon
Conti-2022-Grid-4
2022

Conti formalizes a new business strategy, called third party platforms, supporting young entrepreneurs and managers who have a specialized view in their field. Monarch, Boulder Food Group, Garnett Station Partners and Irenic Capital Management all form part of this strategy.  

Logo-Icon
WSF-Timeline
2022

Wayne Farms and Sanderson Farms merge to form Wayne-Sanderson Farms, a joint venture between Conti and Cargill and the transformation of Conti’s six decades of operating in the chicken industry. Wayne-Sanderson Farms is the third largest vertically integrated poultry producer in the U.S., with annual revenue exceeding $7 billion.

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Conti today

Conti continues to focus on building businesses that can deliver innovation, high performance, and long-term value creation in the food and agriculture sectors. Through our expanded platforms we invest from early stage through middle market and public companies. We bring people, ideas and resources together to build the businesses that will feed the world.