The American Meat Institute (AMI) and the North American Meat Association (NAMA) announced that the organizations have initiated discussions about a possible merger.

The Executive Committees of both associations this week voted in favor of pursuing discussions to create a new organization to represent the meat and poultry industry. A committee composed of members from each association will be formed to discuss next steps and to explore how a new organization can best serve its members. Discussions are anticipated to occur during the next several months.

AMI Chairman Nick Meriggioli, executive vice president of Kraft Foods Group & president, Oscar Mayer, and NAMA Co-Presidents Mike Hesse, director of sales & marketing of BPI Technology, Inc. and Anthony Gahn, Jr., president of Gahn Meat Company, Inc., said, “We believe that these discussions hold great promise for creating a new organization that could leverage the strengths that both AMI and NAMA offer. It is our intention to pursue discussions in a measured, thoughtful manner that will serve the interests of our associations’ members.”

Sources: NAMA, AMI