Report quantifies year-over-year progress in the company's mission – 'Changing The Meat We Eat®'

BEDMINSTER, N.J., July 15, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- APPLEGATE®, the nation's leading natural and organic meat brand, today released of its second Mission Report, offering a transparent, data-driven view into how the company continues to deliver on its mission: Changing The Meat We Eat®. The 2024-2025 report outlines key accomplishments across Applegate's four mission pillars: people, environmental sustainability, ingredient integrity and animal welfare, and showcases the growing impact of the brand's values-driven food system.

Among the report's most significant highlights is Applegate's early completion of its regenerative agriculture milestone. In March 2025, a full nine months ahead of schedule, the company surpassed its original goal to source 100% of the beef in its award-winning all beef hot dogs from certified regenerative farms. The initiative may help to impact nearly twice the projected farmland acreage in half the expected time.1 Holistic cattle grazing practices used on these farms prioritize soil health, water retention, biodiversity and carbon storage.

This commitment is highlighted in Applegate's 2024 Mission Report, a comprehensive evaluation of the brand's mission programs, partnerships and outcomes. The report tracks year-over-year progress using Applegate's Mission Standards Index, a framework that evaluates key activities and initiatives across the company's four mission pillars. These metrics are reviewed and updated annually to ensure long-term accountability and continuous improvement.

"This year's Mission Report reflects how far we've come—and how serious we are about continuing to advance what we believe will make a better food system," said Carolyn Gahn, Senior Director of Mission and Advocacy at Applegate. "From advancing regenerative agriculture to investing in third-party certified animal welfare, to expanding our line of allergen-friendly products, we're using our scale to better serve people, animals and the planet."

"The publication of our 2024 Mission Report represents a crucial step in building trust through transparency," said Joe O'Connor, President of Applegate. "We want our stakeholders—whether they're suppliers, retailers or consumers—to understand the impact of their support, and what it means to play a role in bringing APPLEGATE® products to the table."

Additional key highlights from the 2024 Mission Report include:
• Environmental Sustainability: In partnership with Ecotone Analytics, Applegate estimated that its support of organic production has helped prevent the use of 245,000 pounds of synthetic pesticides and 421,000 pounds of nitrogen fertilizers. Estimates also show that Applegate's grass-fed beef product has helped prevent 79,000 tons of soil erosion.
• Animal Welfare: The company launched a new Animal Welfare Steering Committee, including renowned animal-welfare expert Dr. Temple Grandin, to guide continuous improvement in technologies and practices related to animal health. Applegate was also awarded the prestigious Good Chicken Award from Compassion in World Farming in 2024.
• People: More than one-third of Applegate employees have been with the company for 10-plus years. Applegate continues to invest in employee volunteerism, food education and equity-driven partnerships.
• Ingredient Integrity: In 2024, Applegate launched nine new products and joined the Nutrient Density Alliance to increase awareness of the nutritional benefits of regenerative agriculture. To date, more than 75% of APPLEGATE® products are free from the top nine allergens, over 35% are certified organic and non-GMO, and the company continues to develop exciting innovations in the frozen, snacking and deli categories.

To access the full 2024-2025 Mission Report, visit www.applegate.com/mission-report.
For more information about Applegate and its products, visit www.applegate.com or follow along on Instagram at www.instagram.com/applegate.

1 Certified regenerative acres by approved third-party programs within the Applegate supply chain

About Applegate Farms LLC
Founded in 1987, Applegate Farms, LLC produces high-quality natural and organic hot dogs, bacon, sausages, deli meats, cheese and frozen products. Our products are made without GMO ingredients, and we source from farms where animals are treated with care and respect, pursuant to our Applegate Humanely Raised guidelines all part of our mission - Changing The Meat We Eat®.
Natural can mean many things, but to Applegate natural means our food is:
• From animals that are Applegate Humanely Raised* without antibiotics, added hormones or growth promotants, and allowed to grow at their natural rate
• From animals fed a vegetarian or pasture-centered diet (our beef is 100 percent grass-fed)
• Free of synthetic nitrates or nitrites
• Free of artificial ingredients
Applegate became a stand-alone subsidiary of Hormel Foods in July 2015. For more information about our products, visit www.applegate.com or talk with us on https://www.instagram.com/applegate, send a text to (908) 725-5800.
*Applegate Humanely Raised is a system that raises animals with space to engage in natural behaviors to promote natural growth.