We're a Multigenerational
Family Food Company
Founded in California, Don Lee Farms makes charbroiled burgers, crispy tacos, and more for some of America's largest markets and brands. For over 40 years, Don Lee Farms has been committed to creating delicious, easy-to-prepare foods at an affordable price. With a focus on using only the highest quality ingredients and industry-leading production techniques, Don Lee Farms has become a trusted name in the food industry and a go-to choice for convenient and tasty foods.
Our Family Story
With beginnings in the 1940's, Don Lee Farms has grown into a multigenerational family food company and producer of fresh and frozen food for some of the largest and most successful food brands in America.
The story begins with Larry's Foods, a pioneering business founded by Larry during the 1940's. Known for its production and distribution of sandwiches after World War II, Larry's Foods gained recognition for its contribution to the frozen food industry. It was during this time that Larry's Foods became one of the first companies to introduce fully cooked burgers and assembled sandwiches that could be frozen and delivered to national supermarkets and school districts. In the 1970's, Donald, one of Larry's sons, took on the role of production manager at their Gardena, California production facility.
Following Larry's decision to sell the company, Donald seized the opportunity to carry on the family legacy and establish his own business. In 1982, Don Lee Farms was founded in a small rented building in Marina Del Rey, California. Driven by his early success with local customers in Southern California, Don Lee Farms experienced steady growth, resulting in the establishment of its current headquarters and first company-owned production facility in Inglewood, California by the mid-1980's.
Recognizing the importance of meeting the growing demand of school districts and the rise of the club store format, the Company further bolstered its infrastructure with the addition of a company-owned cold storage and warehouse facility nearby in Downtown Los Angeles.
In the early 2000's, the third generation of the family joined the business, marking a new chapter in Don Lee Farms' history. During this period, the Company expanded into new product lines and forged partnerships in new segments, including with multinational food companies and private label brands.
Don Lee Farms marked its 20th anniversary with a commitment to continuous innovation. They introduced new premium burgers and bowls, leveraging their expertise in blending traditional meats with plant-based proteins to pioneer new vegetarian and plant-based food options. This expansion of their product portfolio reflects their dedication to offering sustainable and innovative protein alternatives.
Throughout the 2010's, Don Lee Farms continued to expand, opening a new company-owned production and cold storage campus in the Dallas, Texas area. The company achieved Organic Certification, further emphasizing its dedication to providing high-quality and responsibly sourced food to its customers. They successfully launched private label and branded burgers and bowls in numerous markets, playing a leading role in popularizing plant-based burgers across America. During this decade, the Company launched hundreds of new food products into the country's top retailers, including Costco, Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, Sam's Club, Walmart, Kroger, and Albertsons Companies and was awarded Albertsons Companies' Private Label New Supplier of the Year award.
During the 2020's, Don Lee Farms' school division achieved a significant milestone by receiving the Urban School Food Alliance Innovation Award for Healthier Products. This recognition underscores our meaningful partnerships with various school districts within the Urban School Food Alliance network, including the NYC Department of Education, Baltimore City Public Schools, Austin ISD, Memphis-Shelby County Schools, Los Angeles Unified School District, and San Diego Unified School District. The Urban School Food Alliance, through its procurement strategies, is actively contributing to sustainability efforts, food waste reduction, and enhanced access to locally sourced food.
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.
In addition to making great food, Don Lee Farms is deeply invested in their community. They actively contribute to various philanthropic initiatives and engage in partnerships that aim to make a positive impact. Don Lee Farms, in collaboration with Bank of America, sponsors The Los Angeles Regional Food Bank's annual Taste of the Rams Event, which raises funds for families in need of support, helping to combat hunger in Los Angeles County. They actively participate in community-driven events, such as The City of Inglewood's Annual Turkey Giveaway and joining ABC's annual Southern California Annual Food Drive, to raise awareness and funds to combat food insecurity.
Furthermore, Don Lee Farms is committed to supporting education through annual Inglewood High School Scholarships, providing opportunities for deserving students to pursue their academic goals. This commitment to education was recognized with a Congressional Certificate of Special Recognition. Don Lee Farms is also recognized for their decades of environmental and sustainability achievements, with the City of Inglewood shining a spotlight on their efforts.
Today, Don Lee Farms demonstrates their commitment through active investments in community-based projects and an unwavering focus on making delicious food that is easy to make and easy to enjoy. Guided by their family values, forging positive change in the food industry and creating a lasting impact, Don Lee Farms is Shaping The Future of Food™.
Products We Make
Premium Burgers
Protein Bowls
Handmade Tacos
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.
🏆 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.
