PhotoLeo Peters portrait
1951
Leo Peters, inventor and the founder of Butterball® Farms, Inc., purchases the trademark Butterball from Ada Walker of Wyoming, Ohio on February 16th.
The story of
Butterball® Farms, Inc.
A history that’s as rich as our butter.
A history that’s as rich as our butter.
At Butterball® Farms, we Imagine Butter Differently — producing artisan-quality, embossed tabletop and flavored butters that create a sophisticated customer experience.
We believe strongly that those who support our passion for producing our butters are the key to our success. We know we couldn’t do what we do without our employees, neighbors, and community partnerships.
Our Guiding Principles
Have integrity in all interactions.
Anticipate and address customer needs.
Diligently pursue excellence.
Promote continuous learning and innovation.
Make the workplace an enjoyable and integrated part of life.
Communicate openly and honestly to promote effective teamwork.
To understand Butterball® Farms, it also helps to know where we’ve been.
Our History
Butterball® Farms began over sixty years ago and developed a great reputation as a company. That’s why founder Leo Peters made sure to retain the rights to the Butterball name when he sold the turkey patents. The obvious new venture for a company called Butterball was to create butter. But not just any butter. Premium butter. Specialty butter. Quality butter.
Butterball® Farms has long been known for its Butterball® Butter Premium Balls®, trademarked butter roses, and custom logo butter, but it has also taken a keen interest in creating specialized, exclusive, flavored butter. The foodservice industry and independent chefs come to Butterball® Farms to develop flavor profiles exclusively for them.
We’ve worked on hundreds of butter recipes and are always open to working with customers to create their desired gourmet butter products. We are masters of butter innovation. When you need customized butter, flavored butter, or even one of Butterball® Farms’ already existing flavor profiles, we encourage you to contact us. We want to make your desired flavor a reality. You can view all our products we have created so far.
Explore the History of Butterball® Farms, Inc.
1950s
PhotoOriginal Wealthy Street plant
1956
The company, Peters Pak, which later becomes Butterball® Farms, Inc. was founded. It was originally located on Wealthy Street in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
1960s
1963
Peters Pak moved to its current location on Buchanan Avenue in Grand Rapids.
Mid 60s
Production of embossed butter roses for foodservice begins.
Late 60s
Leo Peters sells Butterball® IP to Butterball® Turkey, retaining the right to license the name.
1970s
1972
McDonald’s purchases embossed butter for their hotcakes. Butterball® Farms, Inc. continues to supply butter pats to McDonald’s.
1972
Reaches first $1 million in sales.
1980s
1983
The company name changes from Peters Pak to Butterball® Farms, Inc.
PhotoFreeze tunnel, B&W
Late 80s
Butterball® Farms, Inc. modernizes the process of freezing butter. First dairy company to use freeze tunnel for product processing in US.
1990s
1995
Leo Peters passes away at the age of 86 on July 19. Control of Butterball® Farms, Inc. is passed to Mark Peters, Leo’s son.
1997
Butterball® Farms, Inc. develops Butterball® Butter Premium Balls®.
2000s
2003
Butterball® Farms, Inc., begins production of 3D holiday shapes.
2005
Sells first flavored butter portions to Birds Eye Foods for microwave vegetable trays.
2006
Butterball® Farms, Inc. purchases the Stirling Creamery® in Stirling, Ontario, Canada.
2010s
2011
Quik-Creations® Butter Sauces are introduced to the foodservice market.
2015
Butterball® Farms, Inc. is recognized as one of the Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in West Michigan and in the Nation.
2015
Butterball® Farms, Inc. purchases the Creekside Creamery® name.
2016
Designed and built machine to produce the only wrapped 1oz. medallions in the world for Blue Apron.
2016
Butterball® Farms, Inc. sells Stirling Creamery®, in Stirling, Ontario to Gay Lea Foods.
2016
Butterball® Farms, Inc. celebrates 60 years.
2019
The introduction of automation and implementation of advanced robotic systems in the production plant marking a new era of innovation.
2020s
2020
Production of first-ever flow-wrapped butter medallion.
2020
Butterball® Farms, Inc. expanded into new markets, including retail, meal kits, and industrial, with value-added flavor solutions.
2022
The launch of Butterball® Farms, Inc.’s first-ever flavored shaped butter, Honey with Cinnamon Sugar Butter Hive.
2023
Butterball® Butter Premium Balls® distinctive shape was granted “incontestable” under the U.S. Trademark Act, solidifying its unique design as a protected trademark.
2023
Butterball® Farms, Inc. awarded Top 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in the Nation.
2024
Butterball® Farms, Inc. expanded its capabilities beyond shaped and flavored butter to include custom flavored sauces, marinades, gravies, cream cheese, and more.
70 Years 70 Stories
Butterball Farms turns 70 in 2026. Rather than mark it with a press release, the team is telling 70 stories over the course of the year, one for every year the company has been running. Some are about the plant on Buchanan Avenue and the machines that have been on the floor longer than most of the staff. Some are about people who came in through second- chance hiring and never left. Some are about customers still ordering the same pat they first ordered in 1972. New ones go up every week.
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New stories every week
A Legacy Built on Butter, Not Birds
We’re not the turkey company, but our story does start there. Our founder, Leo Peters, made sure to retain the rights to the Butterball name when he sold the turkey patents in the 1960s, eager to translate his innovative mind and high-quality food production experience into the realm of butter and custom flavors.
That mindset continues today with second-generation owner Mark Peters, who has a trendsetting passion for flavor, innovation, and imagination of the culinary arts to produce products that greatly enhance your brand.
Awards & Recognition
Trusted by the brands and certifying bodies that set the standard for quality and food safety.
Imagine Butter Differently
We want to make your desired flavor a reality. Reach out and we'll help you create the custom butter or flavor your brand needs.