Our Heritage

Back in 1925, brothers William and Otto Brakebush started their family business in Westfield, WI with just one truck. They used it to haul local livestock and poultry to bigger markets in Madison and Milwaukee.

As demand grew, so did their business. They started buying eggs from nearby grocers and selling them where they were needed most. Eventually, they took things a step further: picking up live poultry, dressing it, and freezing it for customers.

Over the next few decades, the business became focused on processing precooked chicken and providing easy-to-prepare chicken solutions for foodservice kitchens. That commitment to service and reliability laid the foundation for what Brakebush Brothers, Inc. is today.

1925 Brakebush Brothers, Inc. Founded

The Brakebush Brothers family business started in 1925 with one truck that Bill and Otto Brakebush used to haul local livestock and poultry to major markets in Madison and Milwaukee.

1930s Brakebush Entered Poultry Business

As the business grew, the Brakebush Brothers began picking up live poultry, which they would dress and freeze as a service to their customers.

1940s First Brakebush Poultry Facility Built

A poultry dressing and freezing facility was built, and this started the modern Brakebush Brothers, Inc. in the food industry.

1960s Focused on Precooked Chicken

Through the 1960s, we moved into processing precooked chicken and perfecting our breading.

1970s Tenders, Filets, and Nuggets

Our prepared chicken business took off, and we began selling cooked products: tenders, filets, and nuggets.

2013 New Portioning Facility in Irving, TX

In 2013, we expanded beyond Westfield by acquiring a state-of-the-art portioning facility in Irving, Texas.

2016 Processing Facility in Wells, MN

We added an additional processing facility in Wells, MN in 2016.

2018 Processing Facility in Mocksville, NC

In 2018, we acquired a facility in Mocksville, NC, which began producing products at the end of 2019.

2020 Cold Storage in Grand Prairie, TX

We purchased a cold storage facility in Grand Prairie, TX in 2020.

2024 Portioning Facility in Hartwell, GA

In the beginning of 2024, we acquired Lake Foods in Hartwell, GA, which became our fifth facility: Brakebush Hartwell.

Brakebush Today

We continue to focus on providing the highest quality chicken products to meet the needs of our customers, and we plan to provide chicken for generations to come.

Brakebush Now

Today, Brakebush is made of:

What does the Brakebush family attribute the company's longevity to?

“Hitting 100 years this year is pretty impressive. The family has been a part of it, but I think it's been all the team members that have helped grow the business throughout the years.”

Jon Brakebush

Senior Vice President of Operations
3rd Generation Family Member

"We want to treat [employees, vendors, and customers] the way we would want to be treated. Always being ethical and honest and putting our best foot forward with what we do has always been important to Brakebush."

Chari Schieber

Vice President of IT
3rd Generation Family Member

“We still value the human aspect of doing business. And I think that's going to continue to carry on. That part, I think we've passed on to the generations that are coming along.”

Carl Brakebush

Retired
2nd Generation Family Member

Our Core Values

FAITH
We place faith at the center of our actions and decisions, fostering a culture of trust, respect, and ethical behavior.

UNITY
We champion a ‘One Team, One Mission’ mentality, promoting collaboration, communication, and mutual support to achieve our shared goals.

EMPATHY
We believe in treating others as we wish to be treated—with fairness, respect, and dignity
for all.

LEGACY
We’re committed to giving back and making a positive impact on our community that will last for generations.

SUCCESS
We strive for success by delivering the highest quality in all we do, from our products to our relationships.