Sanderson Farms has steadily scratched its way up the poultry processors' pecking order. The fourth largest in the US, it produces as well as processes, sells, and distributes fresh, chill-pack, and frozen chicken (whole and cut-up) under the Sanderson Farms label. In addition to buying chicks from some 190 breeders, the company contracts with 600-plus independent chicken farmers, who raise the breeder flocks for Sanderson. Its prepared-foods business processes, sells, and distributes partially cooked or marinated chicken, including frozen entrées. Customers are food retailers, distributors, and restaurants and foodservice operators located mainly in the southeastern, southwestern, northeastern, and western US.