KANSAS CITY, Mo. – National Beef Packing Company LLC announced it will acquire the remaining 25 percent interest in Kansas City Steak Company LLC that it does not already own. The deal is expected to close in early April.

National Beef acquired a 75 percent interest in Kansas City Steak in 1997. Kansas City Steak manufactures further-processed beef for food service, retail and direct-to-consumer markets.

“This acquisition provides a tremendous opportunity to optimize our production platform while accelerating the growth of the Kansas City Steak brand and expand the products and services available to our customers,” said Tim Klein, National Beef CEO. “We look forward to having the Kansas City Steak team as a fully integrated part of the National Beef family.”

National Beef offers fresh, chilled and further-processed beef and beef by-products. It is the fourth-largest beef processor in the US with annual sales of more than $7 billion annually. The company has operations in Liberal, Dodge City and Kansas City, Kan.; Hummels Wharf, Pa.; Moultrie, Ga.; Brawley, Calif. and St. Joseph, Mo.