Who we are

Our story begins with a vision …

A bad steak started it all. Angus producer Harold Etling of Marshallville, Ohio was less than satisfied when he tasted a steak – billed as "Angus beef" – at a local restaurant. He conferred with Fred Johnson, an Angus producer in Summitville, Ohio and member of the American Angus Association Board of Directors. The two visionaries discussed the creation of an Association-backed license for retailers and restaurants to market premium Angus beef.

The mission

The goal was to increase demand for registered Angus cattle through a specification-based, branded-beef program that identifies consistent, high-quality beef with superior taste.

Founded in 1978 by Angus cattle producers, the Certified Angus Beef ^® brand is the only brand owned by the American Angus Association ^® and its 35,000 rancher members.

The leader for 30 years

Today, Certified Angus Beef LLC (CAB) is a nonprofit subsidiary of the American Angus Association ^®. The company owns the Certified Angus Beef ^® trademarks and licenses companies to identify and promote beef that meets the brand’s strict quality standards.

The Certified Angus Beef ^® brand is the largest, most successful brand of beef and is a symbol of excellence to consumers at more than 12,500 businesses in 39 countries. More than 1.6 million pounds are sold daily through foodservice and grocery channels, generating an estimated $2.5 billion in consumer sales annually.

Governed by a board of Angus cattle breeders, CAB employs nearly 100 staff members who provide unparalleled marketing support to the company’s business partners.