FARGO, N.D., June 29, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smithfield®, Eckrich®, and Hornbacher’s partnered Wednesday night to surprise one special North Dakota military family with $5,200 in groceries to Hornbacher’s at Newman Outdoor Field in Fargo, North Dakota.

Smithfield and Eckrich hosted a special presentation for Cody Cox and his family to thank them for their service during the annual Military Appreciation Night event held by the Fargo-Moorhead RedHawks, part of the American Association of Independent Professional Baseball.

Cox is a corporal in the North Dakota Army National Guard, working as an information technology specialist to the 426th Signal Company in Fargo, North Dakota. He enlisted in July of 2011 and resides in Fargo with his wife and infant son.

“Smithfield Foods has a long history of supporting our nation’s military. Our Smithfield and Eckrich brands are proud to partner with Hornbacher’s today to celebrate Cpl. Cox and his family to show our gratitude for their service,” said Tim Zimmer, chief marketing officer for Smithfield Foods. “We appreciate the partnership from Hornbacher’s as we provide groceries to the Cox family as a small sign of our appreciation for all that they have given.”

“Groceries are a large expense for our family, and this gift will allow us to put that money toward other important bills, especially now with an infant,” said Cpl. Cox. “Every little bit helps. We can’t thank Smithfield, Eckrich, and Hornbacher’s enough for their support.”

To learn more about Smithfield, visit www.Smithfield.com. For more information about Eckrich, visit www.Eckrich.com. Smithfield and Eckrich are brands of Smithfield Foods.

About Smithfield
A leading provider of high-quality pork products, Smithfield was founded in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia, establishing the town as the "Ham Capital of the World." From hand-trimmed bacon and slow-smoked holiday hams to marinated tenderloins, Smithfield brings artistry, authenticity and a commitment to heritage, flavor, and handcrafted excellence to everything it produces. With a vast product portfolio including smoked meats, hams, bacon, sausage, ribs, and a wide variety of fresh pork cuts, the company services retail, foodservice, and deli channels across the United States and 30 countries abroad. All of Smithfield's products meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. To learn more about how Flavor Hails from Smithfield, please visit www.Smithfield.com, Facebook, and Twitter. Smithfield is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Eckrich
The makers of naturally hardwood smoked sausage and savory deli meats, Eckrich was founded by Peter Eckrich in 1894 and has grown from a small meat market in Fort Wayne, Indiana, to one of the most recognized regional premium deli and meat brands on the market today. Through it all, Eckrich meats have been recognized for their great taste and supreme quality, craftsmanship, care, and pride. For more information, visit www.Eckrich.com. Eckrich is a brand of Smithfield Foods.

About Smithfield Foods
Smithfield Foods is a $15 billion global food company and the world’s largest pork processor and hog producer. In the United States, the company is also the leader in numerous packaged meats categories with popular brands including Smithfield®, Eckrich®, Nathan’s Famous®, Farmland®, Armour®, Farmer John®, Kretschmar®, John Morrell®, Cook’s®, Gwaltney®, Carando®, Margherita®, Curly’s®, Healthy Ones®, Morliny®, Krakus® and Berlinki®. Smithfield Foods is committed to providing good food in a responsible way and maintains robust animal care, community involvement, employee safety, environmental and food safety and quality programs. For more information, visit www.SmithfieldFoods.com.

About Hornbacher’s
Hornbacher’s first opened in 1951 and has always strived to have the highest-quality and freshest perishable products. Hornbacher’s is a longtime member of the Fargo-Moorhead business community and celebrated the grand opening of its first store in Grand Forks, N.D., in October 2015. Hornbacher’s takes pride in serving its communities through charitable, educational and nonprofit events. Find out more by visiting hornbachers.com. “Like” us on Facebook at facebook.com/Hornbachers and follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/Hornbachers.

Contact:
Hunter PR on behalf of Smithfield and Eckrich
Megan Milano
MMilano@HunterPR.com
(212) 679-6600

A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/f140a38d-723f-42c5-9f40-feed694c3612