In this episode, host Lindsay Graber Runft is joined by Clint Walenciak and Carson Rogers to discuss Certified Angus Beef’s expansion into Uruguay. The team explores why Uruguay was selected as the production site, how brand standards are maintained abroad, and what this means for Angus ranchers in the United States. They peel back the curtain on building global access for high-quality beef — without competing with domestic supply.
Key Takeaways
- Certified Angus Beef is launching production in Uruguay, primarily to serve underpenetrated markets like the EU, due to access and export limitations from North America.
- Uruguay was chosen for its advancing cattle genetics, increasing shift towards grain-finished cattle, and strong processor relationships with a focus on branded beef.
- The brand’s rigorous quality standards remain intact abroad, with comparable specification processes and detailed data sharing between U.S. and Uruguayan partners.
- The new Uruguay production stream will exclusively serve the EU and does not compete with domestic U.S. or Canadian markets — instead, it strengthens global brand equity.
Significant Quotes
“Just to get the product in a box and under the conditions that are acceptable for entry into those countries is a huge step for us.” — Clint Walenciak
“When you put those two together between the sales relationship side and then intentional supply with a quality focus, it starts to become a pretty clear picture of we're in the right spot.” — Carson Rogers
“Brand equity is good for a brand that's owned by Angus ranchers. There would be no negative impact on our ranchers here in the United States on this.” — Lindsay Runft
“That was step one — that was a non-negotiable. We had to have a standard in place that we were confident in and comfortable with.” — Carson Rogers
To learn more about raising premium cattle to supply the brand, visit CABcattle.com
