GREELEY, Colo. – JBS USA announced on April 5 that it purchased Omaha, Nebraska-based Imperial American Wagyu Beef LLC.

“We are excited to welcome Imperial American Wagyu Beef and its impeccable reputation for quality and a superior eating experience to the JBS USA portfolio,” said Al Byers, president of JBS USA Regional Beef in a statement. “The addition of a Wagyu Beef offering to our product mix is consistent with our strategy to create a diverse portfolio of products that align with customer demand and evolving consumer trends. The Wagyu market segment is expanding rapidly, and this acquisition presents an opportunity to leverage our scale and expertise to extend this product to a broader range of customers and consumers.”

The terms of the transaction were not disclosed. Imperial American Wagyu Beef is an all-natural cut of meat that is minimally processed from animals on a vegetarian diet. The cattle are vaccinated but are never given hormones, stimulants or antibiotics.

The company uses a marble grading system that is based on the Japanese Beef Marbling Standards (BMS) scale instead of the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grading Standards scale. Products are co-packed in a facility in Omaha.