About Us
Chicken To Impress. People Who Help.
Brakebush is a value-added processor of great tasting chicken products. We’ve been US Family Owned and Operated since 1925, and for nearly 100 years, our sole focus has been chicken and how to craft it to exceed our customers’ expectations. We have dedicated team members across five production facilities working to make the highest-quality chicken served in foodservice kitchens large and small, at national chains, and as industrial ingredients.
The Brakebush team of experts in production, food science, culinary, quality assurance, microbiology and transportation ensure that our products are innovative and safe and that only the best leaves our door and makes it to the menus of foodservice operators nationwide. Our customer service and direct national sales teams know that our relationship with you drives our business, meaning that every conversation is genuine, and your success is our success.
Our Story
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.
As the business grew, the Brakebush Brothers began picking up live poultry, which they would dress and freeze as a service to their customers.
A poultry dressing and freezing facility was built, and this started the modern Brakebush Brothers, Inc. in the food industry.
Through the 1960s, we moved into processing precooked chicken and perfecting our breading.
Our prepared chicken business took off, and we began selling cooked products: tenders, filets, and nuggets.
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In 2013, we expanded beyond Westfield by acquiring a state-of-the-art portioning facility in Irving, Texas.
We added an additional processing facility in Wells, MN in 2016.
In 2018, we acquired a facility in Mocksville, NC, which began producing products at the end of 2019.
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We purchased a cold storage facility in Grand Prairie, TX in 2020.
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In the beginning of 2024, we acquired Lake Foods in Hartwell, GA, which became our fifth facility: Brakebush Hartwell.
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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.
Our Management
Meet the Brakebush Executive Team
Let's Make Great Chicken
Because your customers have expectations for what you serve, we hold chicken to the highest standards. Whether you add your culinary touch or simply heat and serve, our team of experts bring you the chicken that performs exactly how you need it to. No matter the size of your kitchen, we have the chicken that leaves a lasting impression, whether as center-of-plate, snacks, sides, or ingredients.
DOING IT RIGHT.
We believe that no one should ever have to question the quality or integrity of their food and a focus in food safety is paramount to operating a best-in-class food processing facility. That’s why we adhere to the strictest safety standards and provide information and options for those with dietary intolerances. Multiple technologies, including x-ray bone detection equipment, ensure that our products are among the safest in the industry. Our finished products and raw materials are traceable from the supplier to the customer.
We take a transparent approach to safety so that our customers can serve our chicken with confidence and trust. Our production facilities in WI, MN, TX, and NC are SQF Food Safety Level 2 certified, and our newest facility in Hartwell, GA is BRC certified. All facilities have aggressive environmental pathogen testing programs, and participate in a full array of plant audits. In fact, the Microbiology Food Testing Laboratory in our Westfield facility has attained ISO 17025:2017 accreditation, requiring all Microbiology team members to be highly competent in methods to produce precise and accurate tests.
AT THE SOURCE.
Our raw chicken comes from suppliers that are HACCP validated and comply with FSIS regulations. The chickens are raised cage-free and suppliers are required to participate in third party animal welfare audits and follow the National Chicken Council’s guidelines for animal welfare and husbandry practices.
In addition, the supplier of our NAE chicken is American Humane Certified. This is a 3rd party independent verification that certifies the growers care and handling of farm animals meet the science-based welfare standards of the American Humane Association. These chickens are raised with no antibiotics administered, ever.
Our Facilities
Westfield, WI
Irving, TX
Wells, MN
Mocksville, NC
Hartwell, GA
Capabilities
State-of-the-Art Processing Equipment
High-output fully cook and par fry lines producing over 10,000 pounds of product per hour plus multiple smaller lines to accommodate startup and smaller volume products- Pre-sizing of raw breast fillets to minimize trim and maximize value for customers
- Tenderizing, coating, marinating, searing, flattening, char-marking, and roasting abilities
- X-ray bone detection
- Water jet cutting
- Filet sizing
- Packaging ranging from bags to industrial totes
- Palletizing robots
- Statistical process control system to ensure consistency of finished products
Experienced, Hardworking Team Members
Long-tenured management teams at all locations- Direct national sales force
- Quality assurance and microbiology departments to ensure safety of products and production equipment
Long-term relationships with industry suppliers- Over 10 suppliers in over 15 states
- Geographic supplier diversification provides additional risk management
- Longstanding relationships with independent and broadline distributors
- National network of redistributors
- Our own fleet of trucks through Brakebush Transportation
