XL Foods is owned by Nilsson Brothers Inc. of Edmonton, a privately held, Canadian-owned company with a network of livestock-based businesses including auction marts, feedlots and ranches throughout Western Canada. As well, it runs Canada’s largest procurement operation, acquiring cattle from a diverse mix of sources. In 2008, XL Foods paid U.S. giant Tyson $107 million for its meat operations, including its feed yard and processing plant, Lakeside Packers in Brooks. Brian Nilsson and Lee Nilsson are the co-CEOs of Nilsson Bros., and Patrick Bieleny is the chief financial officer. Nilsson Bros. entered the meat-packing business in the late 1990s with the purchase of Edmonton Meat Packing and XL Foods.
XL Lakeside is the company’s Brooks facility which supplies fresh boxed beef, including prime, AAA, AA, A and ungraded as well as variety meats, beef trim and ground beef to companies across Canada. Alberta’s Department of Agriculture and Rural Development said XL Foods processed 4,500 cattle per day and has a capacity of 4,700.
XL Fine Foods is based in Calgary and supplies portioned-controlled meat products that are cut to meet specifications in the food service and retail sector. Products include sliced liver, beef tongue, heart, kidney, pre-packaged frozen ka-bobs, oxtail, pigs feet, pork hock and stir fry.
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