BRONX, NY. – Baldor Specialty Foods announced the acquisition of Golden Packing Co., a premium meat company located in Hunts Point Cooperative Market in the Bronx, NY.

Baldor noted it will change the name of the newly acquired company to Golden Meat Co. and facilitate vertically integrated meat processing with the combination of its sourcing and expert butchering while strengthening logistics. The acquisition allows Baldor to work with chef customers to save on labor and consolidate product deliveries.

“For decades, our customers have trusted us for high-quality fresh food,” said TJ Murphy, owner and chief executive officer of Baldor Specialty Foods. “Adding meat processing has been a part of our plan since we sold our first piece of protein. With Baldor’s sourcing, procurement and delivery capabilities paired with Golden’s cutting and dry aging expertise, we will be scaling a cut shop that meets our customers’ growing needs around meat and bringing wheels to the great business Golden has already created.”

Golden’s legacy traces back to the 1920s in the New York City Meatpacking District. The business found a new start in 2020 with David Bernstein and co-founder Jerry Zwernemann. Bernstein was the great-grandson of the original owner of the business. The two founders have a combined 60 years in the meat industry and built up more than 150 customers, including some of the highest-end steakhouses in New York City. 

Baldor said the founders and its 35 workers, including butchers and drivers, will stay on with the acquisition. 

“We have found a like-minded organization that is as committed to their customers as we are,” said  David Bernstein. “This is a great day for our business, and we are excited to see Golden’s business accelerate as part of Baldor, with the opportunity to sell our meat up and down the Eastern Seaboard.”

Product offerings from Golden Meat Co. include a line of Prime and High Choice graded, dry-aged fresh meats and offers custom cut and portioning options.

As Baldor’s protein category grows, the company recently announced several new hires, including Mark Pastore, who served for more than three decades in the meat industry building programs for foodservice and retail. He will join the business as vice president of business development and lead protein sales expansion of Golden’s visibility.

“I’ve always loved Baldor’s focus on high-end products and service, and I was eager to build a meat brand here at that same level, with a premium portioned-steak program,” Pastor said. “TJ and I immediately clicked, and when we walked into Golden for the first time, and saw their precision and service, we knew they were the right partners for us.”

Pastore previously worked as president of Pat LaFrieda Meat Purveyors. In other personnel moves, Kevin Lindgren, who previously worked as director of protein merchandising at Baldor, will serve as ad director of Golden Meat Co., where he will work on operations and integration.

In recent weeks, Baldor also added John Winter DiMarco as protein business development manager and Daniel Nguyen as senior protein supply planner.