Standard Meat Company (SMC), a fourth-generation family-owned innovator in protein processing, is celebrating a remarkable milestone: 90 years in business. Founded in 1935, with roots tracing back to a family meat stall in Fort Worth’s historic public market, SMC has evolved into a global supplier for foodservice and retail — and today, it’s poised for even greater impact.
The upcoming opening of SMC’s fifth production facility, located near its Fort Worth headquarters at the iconic Stockyards, marks its most technologically advanced plant yet. This flexible new space will allow the company to scale existing innovations like sous vide, searing, and portioning, while staying agile for emerging customer needs and industry advancements.
For co-presidents and fourth-generation leaders Ben Rosenthal and Ashli Rosenthal Blumenfeld, this new chapter reflects both a proud family legacy and a bold, forward-thinking mindset.
“Our grandfather Manny helped transform the meat business with Cryovac packaging in the ’60s. Our dad Billy pioneered automated steak portioning. Today, Ashli and I are putting our own stamp on that legacy through cutting-edge work in sous vide, searing, portioning, meal-kit packaging, and even sustainable ice manufacturing,” says Rosenthal.
🐷 What It Means for the Protein Industry
SMC’s evolution is a blueprint for navigating change in today’s protein landscape. Since taking the reins in 2019, Rosenthal and Blumenfeld have:
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Expanded from two to five facilities
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Rolled out next-generation processing technologies
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Built collaborative partnerships across both legacy and emerging market sectors
Their entrepreneurial leadership was recently recognized with an EY Entrepreneur of the Year® national award, underscoring how family-run businesses can drive industry innovation.
Blumenfeld reflects:
“We understand how to navigate uncertainty because we’ve done it before — whether it’s economic downturns, market shifts, or supply chain disruptions. That scrappy, creative mindset is something we bring to our customers every day.”
💡 Culture as a Competitive Advantage
As SMC scales its production capabilities, it’s doubling down on what makes its operations resilient: people.
In honor of its 90th anniversary, the company has launched a Culture & Strategy Department to embed its newly renewed purpose statement — “to inspire the connections and breakthroughs that ultimately feed our life” — across all levels of the organization. With over 1,100 employees, SMC is investing in leadership development and alignment that translates into stronger customer and partner relationships.
Blumenfeld adds:
“If we’re building the right connections here at home, we can create breakthroughs for our partners as well.”
🔧 Looking Ahead: A 90-Year-Old Startup
Throughout 2025, SMC is marking its anniversary with events, historical reflections, and the grand opening of the new Fort Worth facility on September 17, 2025. Currently in soft-opening production, the new plant will set a new bar for flexibility, sustainability, and culinary innovation.
“We often describe Standard Meat as a 90-year-old startup,” Rosenthal says. “We’ve inherited a deep entrepreneurial legacy, and we’re proud to lead with that same mindset — always looking for the next opportunity to evolve.”
🏭 About Standard Meat Company
Standard Meat Company is a multi-generational protein processor specializing in portioning, packaging, marination, sous vide, searing, and culinary preparation. Headquartered in Fort Worth, Texas, SMC serves a wide range of foodservice needs from its four — soon five — North Texas plants. Pioneers in steak cutting and recognized experts in meat science, food safety, and culinary trends, SMC continues to shape the future of protein production with passion, precision, and people-first leadership.
For more, visit www.standardmeat.com.
