Bob Johnson receives National Lifetime Achievement Award

NPFDA honors the poultry executive’s decades of leadership and impact on the protein industry

ROSE HILL — Robert C. “Bob” Johnson, chief executive officer and owner of House of Raeford Farms, was honored with the National Protein and Food Distributors Association’s 2026 Lifetime Achievement Award during the organization’s annual meeting in Atlanta on Jan. 28.

“I was honored to receive the same award given to my father 19 years ago,” said Johnson. “It was also incredibly special to have my wife Luanne, children, grandchildren, other family members, and so many co-workers present with me during the ceremony.”

For more than five decades, fostering connection, collaboration and long-term business relationships that strengthen the protein industry has been a goal of the NPFDA. The Lifetime Achievement Award is presented to persons whose leadership have influenced and strengthened the processing, distribution, or marketing segments of the protein industry.

For Johnson, the honor continues a family legacy rooted in the values instilled by his father and grandfather. For the NPFDA, it reflects his decades-long leadership, commitment to community-focused initiatives, and multigenerational impact on the protein industry.

Johnson’s career mirrors the evolution of House of Raeford Farms itself, which began as a family farm in 1955 before becoming House of Raeford Farms. Starting on the processing line of his family’s turkey operation, Johnson gained an understanding of the business from the ground up. Over time, that hands-on experience shaped his approach. Following in the footsteps of both his father and grandfather, Johnson helped carry forward the family legacy.

“As a child, I can remember being around my dad, grandfather, and uncle as they slowly grew our business from a few turkey farms to a hatchery, feed mill, and processing facility. Those early experiences shaped my belief that hard work and family values would always guide our company,” wrote Johnson in a public letter as the company celebrated 70 years.

Today as CEO and owner of House of Raeford Farms, he leads one of the nation’s top 10 chicken producers and a top revenue‑generating company in North Carolina. Under Johnson’s leadership, House of Raeford’s impact expanded beyond production numbers and market share. In 2010, the company established FLOCK, a nonprofit organization focused on hunger relief, youth development, and advancing mental health and addiction recovery initiatives in communities where the company operates.

“The real credit for the success of House of Raeford goes to those who came before me and planted the seeds, like my father and grandfather. And the many associates that nurtured those seeds over 70 years through hard work and dedication,” said Johnson. “It takes a committed team to achieve great results, and I am proud to work alongside such outstanding people.”