FORT WORTH, TX – The Fort Worth Chamber (FWC) has announced that Standard Meat Company (SMC) has been named the winner of its 2024 Vandergriff Award and will be recognized at FWC’s annual “State of the County” event on Aug. 23.
“Simmons Bank is proud to sponsor the Vandergriff Award, and this year we are pleased to
recognize Standard Meat Company as the 2024 recipient,” said Lori Baldock, Simmons Bank Fort Worth Market President. “This annual award, named in memory of Judge Tom Vandergriff, recognizes an individual or organization whose contributions positively impact Tarrant County on a national scale. Standard Meat Company, founded in Fort Worth in 1935, remains family-owned and headquartered in Fort Worth’s historic Stockyards and, in the spirit of the Vandergriff Award, continues to drive expansion and innovation that benefits Tarrant County and beyond.”
The recipient of the Vandergriff Award is chosen by the FWC board of directors and officers. Past winners include Trail Drive Management Corporation, American Airlines, Texas Rangers, General Motors, Van Cliburn, and Sundance Square.
“Standard Meat Company’s dedication to excellence and innovation, coupled with a deep respect for tradition, has allowed them to thrive for generations,” said FWC President and CEO Steve Montgomery. “SMC has solidified its place as a cornerstone of Fort Worth’s rich history, and its continuing contributions merit this well-deserved recognition.”
An industry leader in quality and innovation, Standard Meat Company is a multi-generational protein packaging and portioning firm with plants in Fort Worth, Dallas, Saginaw, and Ponder, Texas. The company is a global supplier for the food service and retail industries and is a recognized expert in meat science, food safety and quality assurance, culinary trends, purchasing and packaging.
Since 2019, when the brother-sister duo of Ben Rosenthal and Ashli Rosenthal Blumenfeld assumed SMC leadership as co-presidents, the company has experienced remarkable growth. Earlier this year, the company announced the construction of its fifth protein processing plant, a 166,000 square foot facility that will occupy a renovated, historic meat processing plant in Fort Worth’s northside. According to SMC, the new facility will help the company stand ready to meet the innovative product needs and growing volume demands of a range of top tier commercial customers.
“Our great-grandfather founded this company right here in Fort Worth in 1935, and we’ve been proud to be part of our region’s amazing development through all those years,” said Rosenthal, who in addition to SMC co-president, is also CEO. “It has meant so much to us to be able to showcase the North Texas entrepreneurial drive and innovative spirit to a customer base that has grown from local and regional, to nationwide and beyond.”
Earlier this summer, Rosenthal and Blumenfeld were named winners of Ernst & Young LLP’s (EY) Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2024 Southwest Award. Entrepreneur Of The Year is a competitive awards program for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies, and the duo is now eligible for consideration for EY’s 2024 National Awards, with winners to be announced in November. The siblings are the fourth generation of their family to run the company.
“For us, Standard Meat Company is not just a business: it’s a family legacy of investment in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, and North Texas,” Blumenfeld said. “We're excited to continue that legacy, bringing innovative new jobs and opportunities to the place we've always called home. From all of us here at Standard Meat, we want to thank you — Fort Worth Chamber and Simmons Bank — for this incredible recognition.”
The 2024 “State of the County,” presented by Capital One, is scheduled for Friday, Aug. 23 from noon to 1 p.m. at The Worthington Renaissance Fort Worth Hotel. At the event, Tarrant County Judge Tim O’Hare will provide insights into the county’s progress and future outlook and address key issues that matter to the local community.
ABOUT THE VANDERGRIFF AWARD
Established in 2011 in memory of Tarrant County Judge Tom Vandergriff, the award honors a legacy individual or organization whose contributions positively impact Tarrant County on a national scale. The recipient is chosen by the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce board of directors and officers. Past winners include Trail Drive Management Corporation, American Airlines, Texas Rangers, General Motors, Van Cliburn, and Sundance Square. A full list of award recipients can be viewed at fortworthchamber.com/vandergriff-award/.
ABOUT THE FORT WORTH CHAMBER
The Fort Worth Chamber, with 1,300 member businesses, is one of the largest chambers in the North Texas region. Through its core functions of business retention and expansion, talent development, small business and entrepreneur support, and government advocacy, the Chamber’s vision is to drive the Fort Worth region to be the most thriving, inviting community for all. Contact the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce at (817) 336-2491 or visit https://www.fortworthchamber.com/.
###
