Top Raw Chicken Brands for Flavor and Quality

In today's fast-paced world, ensuring the quality and safety of our food has become more crucial than ever, especially when it comes to raw chicken. Consumers are increasingly seeking out trusted brands that offer not only freshness but also ethical sourcing and environmental responsibility. With a variety of options flooding the market, identifying the top brands for raw chicken can be a daunting task. Below, we provide a curated list of the best brands renowned for their commitment to quality and consumer satisfaction.

Illustration of raw chicken

Best brands of raw chicken in 2025

Perdue

Perdue Farms, a family-owned company since 1920, is one of the leading poultry producers in the U.S., known for its high-quality raw chicken products. In 2023, Perdue Foods produced 63.28 million pounds of ready-to-cook chicken weekly and generated $4.83 billion in chicken sales, with a product mix of 76% fresh and 24% frozen. The company is a leader in all-vegetarian-fed and no-antibiotics-ever chicken, catering to retail, foodservice, and wholesale markets. Perdue holds an estimated 7% market share of chicken in the United States and employs over 19,000 people. Its commitment to animal welfare and environmental practices sets it apart in the industry.

Tyson

Tyson Foods is a leading producer of raw chicken, holding the top ranking in poultry production with a 21.27% market share in 2018. The company slaughtered approximately 39.03 million chicken heads per week, resulting in a ready-to-cook production of 192.33 million pounds weekly. Tyson's chicken segment has shown significant improvement, reporting an adjusted operating income of $1.015 billion for the full year in FY 2024, a substantial turnaround from previous years. The company's focus on live operations and plant efficiencies has contributed to its strong performance. Tyson's commitment to quality is evident in its no-antibiotics-ever chicken products, which are sold in higher volumes than any other company globally. For more detailed information on Tyson Foods, visit their Wikipedia page.

Sanderson Farms

Sanderson Farms is a leading poultry producer in the United States, renowned for its high-quality fresh and frozen chicken products. As the third largest poultry producer, the company operates 13 processing facilities, 11 hatcheries, and 9 feed mills, processing approximately 661 million chickens or 4.9 billion dressed pounds in 2021. Founded in 1947, Sanderson Farms has expanded significantly, employing over 17,000 employees and partnering with more than 1,000 independent growers. The company is committed to animal welfare, sustainability, and food safety, ensuring its chickens are raised to the highest standards. Sanderson Farms products are sold primarily under its brand name to retailers, distributors, and casual dining operators across the U.S. and export markets.

Foster Farms

Foster Farms is a leading producer of high-quality raw chicken, renowned for its commitment to responsible growing practices and food safety. In 2023, the company produced 23.8 million pounds of ready-to-cook chicken weekly, achieving $2.445 billion in sales, with 72.7% of its revenue stemming from the retail market. Notably, 40% of Foster Farms' flock is raised antibiotic-free, and 10% is USDA Organic certified. The company has significantly reduced Salmonella prevalence to less than 5%, far below the industry average of 25% for raw poultry parts. Foster Farms offers a diverse range of products, including 849 different items under brands like Foster Farms, Coastal Range, Valbest, and Sunland. For more detailed information, visit Foster Farms' official website.

Pilgrim's Pride

Pilgrim's Pride is a leading global provider of high-quality food products, particularly renowned for its raw chicken production. In 2018, the company produced 156.02 million pounds of ready-to-cook chicken on a weekly basis, marking a 1.2% increase from 2017. As the second-largest broiler meat producer in the U.S., Pilgrim's Pride generated $10.94 billion in net sales for fiscal year 2018. The company operates 39 production facilities and partners with over 4,900 family farms for poultry supplies. Pilgrim's Pride continues to enhance its offerings through operational excellence, strong demand, and diversified value-added products. Learn more about their operations on their official website.

Bell & Evans

Bell & Evans is a leading producer of premium and organic chicken, celebrating 125 years in business and 10 years of organic production. The company, ranked as the 21st-largest poultry company in the U.S., produces 100% premium Raised Without Antibiotics chicken and organic chicken, with approximately 60% and 40% of its business respectively. It is the largest chicken supplier for Whole Foods Market and operates the world's first organic-certified animal welfare-focused chicken hatchery, which can hatch up to 1.9 million chicks per week. Bell & Evans is expanding its production capacity with a new $330 million organic-certified harvesting facility set to double its current production by late 2021. The company has seen significant growth, with a 69.9% increase in organic sales over a three-year period.

Murray's

Murray's Chickens stands out as a premier producer of raw chicken, renowned for its commitment to quality and consumer health. Their chickens are raised in stress-free environments with fresh water, spacious and clean accommodations, and a diet free from antibiotics, resulting in healthier and more robust birds. Notably, Murray's 99% fat-free, skinless chicken breasts have earned the "heart-healthy" label from the American Heart Association, and they contain 44% less fat than other chickens. These chickens are preferred by top New York restaurants such as Lutece, Le Cirque 2000, and Nobu. Murray's transparency extends to allowing consumers to track the origin of their chicken, including the farmer and coop where it was raised. For more information, visit Murray's Chicken website.

Smart Chicken

Smart Chicken, acquired by Tyson Foods in 2018, is a leading producer of raw chicken, particularly excelling in the organic category, where sales volume grew by 8.6% from 2016 to 2017, outpacing conventional poultry growth. Known for its innovative air-chilled, no-water-added processing method, Smart Chicken maintains high-quality standards, including USDA Process Verified 100% pure air-chilled products and SQF Level 3 certification for food safety. The brand is available in various national supermarket chains, regional stores, and health-focused markets. By sourcing feed grains locally from the Midwest, Smart Chicken effectively reduces its carbon footprint. Their products are free from additives, broths, and marinades, and the company employs breeds adapted to organic, antibiotic-free diets with free-range conditions. This steadfast commitment to quality and sustainability has made Smart Chicken a favored choice for consumers seeking fresh, high-quality meats.

Empire Kosher

Empire Kosher is a leading producer of raw chicken, processing 240,000 chickens and 27,000 turkeys per week, with annual revenue exceeding $100 million, making it the largest U.S. producer of kosher poultry. The company is known for its strict quality control, with inspectors five times stricter than USDA standards, and adheres to high animal welfare and environmental standards. Empire Kosher poultry is raised on small family farms within a 90-mile radius of its Mifflintown plant, fed an all-vegetarian diet, and never administered antibiotics or growth hormones. The company is vertically integrated, handling all stages from hatching to shipping, and is certified by the Orthodox Union and Rabbi Yechiel Babad. Empire Kosher's commitment to quality and ethical practices has earned it positive press and numerous awards. For more detailed information, you can visit their Wikipedia page.

Springer Mountain Farms

Springer Mountain Farms is renowned for its high-quality raw chicken, raised without antibiotics since 1997, a practice that aligns with consumer preferences, as 93% of respondents in a Consumer Reports survey prefer meat raised without antibiotics. The company uses 100% U.S.-grown corn and soybeans in their feed, supporting local farmers and ensuring consistent quality. Their chickens are fed a vegetarian diet, free from animal by-products, and are American Humane Certified™, reflecting a strong commitment to animal welfare. This dedication to quality and sustainability makes Springer Mountain Farms a trusted choice among chefs and diners, with products that are all-natural and minimally processed. By choosing Springer Mountain Farms, consumers support a brand that prioritizes health, local farming, and animal care.