[6] Its primary business is developing and providing equipment, software, and services for automating processes in the poultry, meat, and fish industries.

Marel's processing division carries systems and equipment for slaughtering, deboning and trimming, and case-ready food services.

[9] The Marel brand was established in 1983 and went public on the Icelandic Stock Exchange in 1992, marking its transition from a startup to a global company.

[15] In November 2019, Marel finalized a 40% share in Icelandic company Curio ehf, a manufacturer of advanced equipment for whitefish processing.

Amsterdam was chosen for the second listing of Marel shares as the company already had a strong presence in the Netherlands, where 1/3 of its employees are based.

As a result, the Chicago-based company was renamed JBT Marel Corporation, as well as being listed on the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.

While many companies have exited the Russian market due to international sanctions and ethical concerns, Marel has maintained its presence, leading to backlash from organizations advocating for corporate accountability,[20] In 2012 Marel was awarded the EuroTier Gold Award for its contribution in environmental conservation and product safety for poultry processing.

[26] In Georgia, USA, Marel Stork Poultry Processing was recognized in 2014 by Gainesville-Hall County in their Industry of the Year Awards.