It all started with a dream.

Twenty years ago Scott Sechler, owner of Bell & Evans, had a vision of a processing plant that would set the standard for all chicken production facilities.  Those twenty years were well spent.  He traveled the world visiting poultry plants and asking questions.  Driven by his vision to produce the best chicken possible, Scott and his team incorporated the latest technologies, coupled with the best equipment, realizing his lifelong dream.

A unique facility like no other in the world

Working hand-in-hand with Meyn,Holland's foremost designer of poultry processing equipment, our new facility is their state-of-the-art showplace in the world.  This solidly-engineered structure, with tile walls and brick floors, raises the bar for quality, cleanliness and employee safety while providing a colorful, friendly work environment.  At its center is the masterpiece of ingenuity...

The Bell & Evans Air Chill System

Our system consists of three different cooling chambers; each is closely monitored to maintain a specific temperature and humidity during the process.  To assure proper chilling, the birds traverse almost two miles of track, taking them over 2.5 hours to move through the system.  Unlike other Air Chill chambers, ours has a unique, single level chilling line that prevents cross contamination from birds on higher tracks dripping onto those underneath. 

This slow chill process is also more effective in tenderizing the meat.  Since our chickens do not depend on ice water for chilling, the chicken's natural juices are not diluted in, or replaced by the water in a conventional water chiller.  While in these conventional chillers, chickens may absorb 7 to 8% of their body weight in added water - and that water may contain chlorine. (Chlorine is added to conventional chillers to inhibit bacterial growth.)  This water "weeps" out of the meat and is trapped in the "diaper" you find in fresh chicken packaging.

Our birds come out of the Air Chill System with an internal temperature under 35ºF without freezing.  With more tender meat and a great symmetrical shape, our Air Chill System gives you a better tasting chicken.

Environmentally friendly

Since our Air Chill System uses cold air not water to chill our chickens, we are able to save tens of thousands of gallons of water each day.  And since water is not weeping from the chicken, we will now be able to use recyclable and reusable shipping containers.

Benefits of the Bell & Evans Air Chill System.

• Bell & Evans Air Chilled Chickens retain their own natural juices.
  • Each bite is incredibly more tender and full of flavor.
• Bell & Evans Air Chilled Chickens are individually slow chilled.
  • No water or chlorine permeates the meat or dilutes the flavor.
• Bell & Evans Air Chill System is environmentally friendly.
  • Lower water usage, tens of thousands of gallons saved each day.
• Longer shelf life.
• Reduced human handling.
• Closely monitored temperature controlled environment.