Smithfield Foods was historically acquired in 2013 by Shuanghui International (which later rebranded as WH Group), a massive Chinese pork processing conglomerate. However, following subsequent corporate restructuring, private placements, and a formal initial public offering of Smithfield Foods on the NASDAQ stock exchange under the ticker symbol SFD, the company established an independent public market presence with a broad global base of institutional and retail shareholders, while WH Group retained a major controlling interest.