At True Grade, we believe great food isn’t just about taste—it’s about the story, the people, and the values behind it. Few partners embody that better than Coleman All Natural Meats, a company leading the charge in humane, gestation crate-free pork.
I had the opportunity to sit down with JD, a representative from Coleman, to talk about what makes their approach so special—and how, together with True Grade, they’ve opened new doors in the cruise line industry for premium, ethically raised pork.
JD, thanks for joining me today. Let’s start with the basics—what makes Coleman stand out in a crowded meat industry?
Thanks, Tony. At Coleman, we’ve always believed that how animals are raised truly matters—not just to us, but to consumers. We’re proud to be one of the first U.S. pork producers to offer 100% crate-free pork. That means no gestation crates or farrowing crates, ever.
In addition, once our pigs transition from the nursery, they’re raised on an all-vegetarian feed. Everything is handled by American family farmers who follow strict humane practices. That not only improves animal welfare—it also results in a better-quality product.
That’s fantastic and it aligns perfectly with the values we see gaining traction across the foodservice world, especially in the cruise industry. But before we dive into that, can you tell me a little about the culture behind Coleman? What’s happening on the farms, behind the scenes?
Absolutely. At the heart of Coleman are our farmers—the people. Many of our partner farms have been raising livestock for generations, and they care deeply about doing things the right way.
Our pork comes from pigs that are never given antibiotics or growth promotants. Everything is third-party audited for animal welfare. It’s not just about meeting standards—it’s about exceeding them, because it’s the right thing to do.
That’s what impressed us when we first connected. But until recently, Coleman wasn’t in the cruise business. How did that change?
[Laughs] That changed when we met True Grade! We’ve always had strong retail and foodservice presence, but the cruise lines were uncharted waters for us—pun intended. You all helped us understand that opportunity and navigate it.
It was a pleasure. For those reading, cruise lines can be a complex and highly regulated market. They demand consistency, quality, and often, differentiation that aligns with their guests’ expectations for sustainability and ethics. At True Grade, we specialize in helping brands like Coleman translate their strengths into success in this space.
Exactly. You didn’t just make introductions—you walked us through the entire process. From product approvals, to logistics, to telling our story to cruise line chefs and procurement teams. Today, our gestation crate-free pork is being served on multiple major cruise lines, giving passengers the chance to enjoy a premium product with a humane story behind it.
And that’s only the beginning. Travelers are increasingly looking for food choices that reflect their values. Humane standards, antibiotic-free, crate-free—these are no longer niche demands. Thanks to partners like Coleman, we can help cruise lines meet and exceed those expectations.
We’re proud to be part of that journey. It wouldn’t have happened without True Grade opening those doors and making the process seamless.
