The transaction is expected to close by the end of December 2025.
Mantiqueira USA (MTQ USA) has announced the acquisition of U.S. egg producer Hickman’s Egg Ranch.
MTQ USA, headquartered in Greeley, Colorado, is a newly formed egg production and distribution company that operates as a joint venture between founders of Mantiqueira, and meat processing company JBS.
“Expanding into the United States has long been a vision for our family, and taking this step through the acquisition of Hickman’s makes this moment especially meaningful,” stated Leandro Pinto, Founder of Mantiqueira. “Hickman’s is a respected leader with a legacy of quality and service. Combining their deep industry expertise with our global experience positions MTQ USA for long-term success.”
“Launching MTQ USA through this acquisition creates a strong foundation built on complementary strengths,” stated Murilo Scarpa Pinto, MTQ USA President. “Hickman’s heritage, quality, and customer relationships—paired with global experience, resources and scale—give us the ability to provide exceptional service and grow with purpose.”
“This acquisition is an important milestone for JBS in the United States, expanding our presence into a new and complementary protein category,” added Wesley Batista Filho, JBS USA Chief Executive Officer (CEO). “By partnering with the Pinto Family through MTQ USA, we are creating strong synergies that will enhance collaboration, improve efficiency, and accelerate innovation. Hickman’s brings decades of experience and credibility in the American egg industry, and together we see significant opportunity to deliver more value to customers across the country.”
In May 2025, Hickman’s announced that it lost almost its entire layer population due to outbreaks of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI).
According to WATT Global Media’s 2025 Top Egg Company survey, Hickman’s is the 18th largest egg producer in the U.S. with six million layers. Granja Mantiqueira, one of the parent companies of Mantiqueira USA, is based in Brazil and is the ninth largest egg company in the world. The company had 17.6 million layers in 2024.