CHARLES FRED LOVETTE

Charles Fred Lovette was born January 1, 1925, the oldest son of Mr. and Mrs. C. O. Lovette. He is President of Holly Farms Poultry Industries, Inc., of Wilkesboro, Executive Vice President of The Federal Company of Memphis, Tennessee, and is truly a self-made man in the finest sense of the American dream.

He started in the poultry business in 1942 by driving a truck around the countryside buying eggs, chickens, and other products from local farmers and reselling them in Winston-Salem. From this humble beginning, Fred swiftly expanded. In 1961, he formed Holly Farms Poultry Industries, Inc., from 16 poultry oriented companies in the Wilkes County area. Under his leadership, Holly "Farms pioneered Holly Pak chicken whereby chicken is processed under carefully controlled conditions, pre-packaged and priced at plant level, and delivered fresh to the retail store.

Fred Lovette’s success with his revolutionary marketing concept is illustrated by the growth of Holly Farms. They now operate eight plants with a combined capacity of 4,250,000 broilers and over 6,500 employees. This year Holly’s sales exceeded 320 million dollars. 

Fred Lovette has a genuine concern for people. Through his efforts, land was contributed to Wilkesboro Elementary School and Wilkes Community College where the vocational building has been named the Charles Fred Lovette Hall.         

For the prestige that Charles Fred Lovette has brought to the North Carolina poultry industry, he has earned a prominent position in the North Carolina Poultry Hall of Fame.