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Smithfield says it is owned by WH Group but 'not affiliated with the Chinese government'
Summary
Residents raised concerns about Smithfield Foods’ ownership by WH Group and possible links to the Chinese state; a Smithfield representative said the company is publicly traded, was acquired by WH Group in 2013, and is run by a U.S. management team and not by the Chinese government.
Questions about foreign ownership surfaced during the Crooks meeting as residents asked whether Smithfield’s acquisition by WH Group raised national security or governance concerns.
A resident asked point‑blank whether Smithfield is owned by a Chinese company and whether there are links to the Chinese government. A Smithfield representative replied that the company was acquired by WH Group, a Hong Kong‑based company, in 2013; the representative said WH Group is publicly traded, that the local management team is U.S.‑based, and that the company is not affiliated with the Chinese government.
"We are not affiliated with the Chinese government. We do not do work on behalf of the Chinese government," the Smithfield representative said, adding the company conducts philanthropic and community work in locations where it operates. Residents requested more detail on ownership structure and how land purchase/leasing would be executed; company representatives offered to share ownership information and meet individually.
