What the measure does:

  • Unfairly targets a single employee-owned Denver business – Superior Farms – and forces it to shut down.
  • Eliminates 160 well-paying jobs with benefits, jeopardizing the well-being of not just the employees, but of their children and families as well.
  • Requires the city to “prioritize residents whose employment is affected by the ordinance in workforce training or employment assistance programs” but does not guarantee or offer any financial assistance or compensation.
  • This measure is unfair, ineffective, and simply the wrong approach.

Employees

Facts About Superior Farms:

  • Superior Farms was founded in 1964.
  • Superior Farms is employee-owned, providing well-paying jobs and benefits – including ESOP shares, 401(k) matching contributions, and medical and dental insurance – to 160 hardworking individuals.
  • Nearly 80% of the employee-owners are residents of Denver.
  • Superior Farms offers 100% Halal products, which is based on humane treatment throughout the entire lifecycle of the animal.
  • Superior Farms is the largest purveyor of American Lamb from small family farms in Colorado and across the U.S. – providing a homegrown alternative to imported lamb which must be shipped thousands of miles.
  • Superior Farms has in recent years reduced its use of energy, water, diesel fuel and plastics as part of its dedication to the environment.

Impacts to the City:

  • This measure could cost taxpayers $70 million or more to compensate Superior Farms for taking its property and forcing it to shut down. Denver could use that money for other critical city services.
  • Consumers will pay more for meat shipped from out of state if Superior Farms is forced to close. Higher prices unfairly burden low-income families.

Implications for Colorado:

  • Negatively impacts the state’s economy and important agricultural industry – the second largest industry in the state.
  • Impacts jobs associated with Colorado sheep production including Colorado independent farmers, truckers, distributors, retailers, butchers, and restaurant owners.
  • Virtually eliminates the export of branded “Colorado Lamb” across the nation and throughout the world.
  • Endangers millions of dollars of other commerce related to meat production operations.