Family Since
the 1940s
A pioneering spirit in American food manufacturing, Don Lee Farms' legacy began in the 1940s with Larry's Food Products. As a visionary in the post-war frozen food industry, Larry revolutionized food manufacturing by developing groundbreaking processes for fully cooked frozen burgers and assembled sandwiches, transforming how America's schools and supermarkets served their communities.
Our Family Story
This innovative spirit found new life when Donald, Larry's son, founded Don Lee Farms in 1982 following the successful sale of Larry's Food Products. Starting in a modest Marina Del Rey facility serving a local school district, Donald's commitment to exceptional quality at accessible prices quickly attracted more customers. A transformative relationship with Costco (then Price Club) in 1980s and an expansion from California school districts eastward, became the cornerstone of the company's expansion, built on shared values of premium quality and value.
This spirit of innovation continued when Donald, Larry's son, founded Don Lee Farms in 1982. Starting in a rented Marina Del Rey facility, Donald began by serving local school districts, establishing a commitment to school food service that remains a cornerstone of the business today. His unwavering focus on making great food at great prices soon attracted significant accounts. A pivotal relationship began with Costco (then Price Club) in the 1980s in San Diego. This supplier relationship, built on shared values of premium quality and value, became instrumental in the company's expansion.
The company's early success led to establishing its headquarters and first company-owned production facility in Inglewood, California. To meet growing demand, Don Lee Farms expanded its infrastructure with a company-owned cold storage and warehouse facility in Downtown Los Angeles, setting the stage for national growth.
As the third generation joined the business in the early 2000s, Don Lee Farms entered a new era of expansion and innovation. The company diversified its product portfolio, forming relationships with multinational food companies and private label brands while maintaining its focus on premium quality proteins at various price points.
The 2010s marked a period of significant national expansion with the opening of a state-of-the-art production and cold storage campus in the Dallas, Texas area. This strategic growth enhanced the company's ability to serve customers nationwide efficiently. During this decade, Don Lee Farms achieved Organic Certification and introduced hundreds of new food products across America's most trusted retailers, earning recognition including Albertsons Companies' Private Label New Supplier of the Year award.
Innovation in the school food service market led to the Urban School Food Alliance Innovation Award for Healthier Products in the 2020s, highlighting successful partnerships with major school districts including NYC Department of Education, Baltimore City Public Schools, and Los Angeles Unified School District. These collaborations advance sustainability efforts, reduce food waste, and enhance access to locally sourced food.
Community engagement remains central to Don Lee Farms' mission. The company actively supports various philanthropic initiatives, including The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank's annual Taste of the Rams Event with Bank of America, The City of Inglewood's Annual Turkey Giveaway, and ABC's annual Southern California Food Drive. The Donald Goodman Family Foundation Volunteer Center at the Los Angeles Regional Food Bank stands as a testament to the company's commitment to fighting hunger in Los Angeles County.
Today, Don Lee Farms continues to evolve while maintaining its founding principles. The company produces billions of flame-grilled burgers, handmade tacos, protein bowls, and other high-quality products enjoyed across the United States, Canada, and Mexico. Their products are available for same-day delivery or pickup at major retailers including Walmart and Target, making premium food accessible to families everywhere.
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Under Donald's leadership, recognized as Philanthropist of the Year by Los Angeles Business Journal, Don Lee Farms harmonizes three generations of expertise to create innovative food solutions. From its early days in Marina Del Rey to its current position as a leading food manufacturer, the company continues its mission of Shaping The Future of Food™ through quality, innovation, and community impact.
Since the 1980's, the Company's footprint has grown fourfold with billions of its flagship flame grilled burgers, handmade tacos, protein bowls, and other meat and plant-based products made and enjoyed by customers in the United States, Canada, and Mexico.
What We Do
Product Development
We develop ideas into commercially successful food products made and delivered on a national scale.
Supply Chain Management
We prioritize local and optimize sourcing, transportation, storage, procurement and delivery of raw materials and finished goods.
Food Safety & Regulatory
Compliance
We operate a data-driven and science-backed food safety system built on decades of industry-leading expertise and continuous on-site third party oversight.
Manufacturing
We make fresh and frozen foods for some of the largest and most successful food brands from our company-owned facilities in Southern California and North Texas.
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🏆 Generations of
Food Safety Excellence
Food safety and the health and safety of our employees is our highest priority. We operate under data-driven food safety programs and processes that are continually monitored. Our food safety system is built on a foundation of technology, decades of experience, and a large team of food safety and quality assurance experts who work tirelessly to uphold the highest standards of safety and quality. They collaborate with our facilities and on-site regulators to implement and maintain food safety programs that exceed USDA and FDA regulations.
