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                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                                 PROMISSORY NOTE

$27,638.00                                               Hickory, North Carolina
                                                         April 17, 2001


         FOR VALUE RECEIVED the undersigned, PF Management, Inc., promises to
pay to Bobby M. Lutz, the principal sum of TWENTY SEVEN THOUSAND SIX HUNDRED
THIRTY EIGHT and No/100 Dollars ($27,638.00), with interest from even date
herewith, at the rate of Eight Percent (8%) per annum on the unpaid balance
until paid or until default, both principal and interest payable in lawful money
of the United States of America, at 8712 Middleton Circle, Harrisburg, North
Carolina, or at such place as the legal holder hereof may designate in writing.
The principal and interest shall be due and payable as follows:

         In nineteen (19) quarterly payments of accrued interest, the first such
payment of accrued interest being due and payable on July 15, 2001, and each
successive payment of accrued interest being due and payable each three (3)
months thereafter until April 15, 2006, on which date the entire principal
balance and any accrued interest thereon will be due and payable.

         Unless otherwise provided, this Note may be prepaid in full or in part
at any time without penalty or premium. Partial payments shall be applied to
installments due in reverse order of their maturity.

         In the event of default in payment of any installment of principal or
interest hereof as the same becomes due and such default is not cured within ten
(10) days from written notice to cure, then in such event the holder, at his
option, may without further notice, declare this Note in default and accelerate
the remainder of the debt as due and payable. Failure to exercise this option
shall not constitute a waiver of the right to exercise the same at any other
time. The unpaid principal of this Note, and any part thereof, accrued interest
and all other sums due under this Note shall bear interest at the rate of
Fifteen percent (15%) per annum after default until paid.

         The undersigned maker hereby waives presentment for protest, demand,
and dishonor and all other notices or demands whatsoever, excepting notice of
nonpayment above, and agrees to continue to remain bound for the payment of
principal, interest and all other sums due under this Note notwithstanding any
extension or extensions of time for the payment of principal and interest.

         Upon default the holder of this Note may employ an attorney to enforce
the holder's rights and remedies, and the undersigned maker of this Note hereby
agrees to pay to the holder reasonable attorney's fees not to exceed fifteen
percent (15%) of the outstanding balance owing on said Note, plus all other
reasonable expenses incurred by the holder in exercising any of the holder's
rights and remedies upon default.

         This Note is governed and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of North Carolina.

         This Note is given in consideration of the purchase of 3,685 common
shares of Pierre Foods, Inc. from the holder.
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         IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the undersigned corporate maker has caused this
instrument to be signed in its corporate name by its President, its corporate
seal to be hereunto affixed, and attested by its Secretary, by order of its
Board of Directors, as of the day and year first above written.

ATTEST:                               PF MANAGEMENT, INC.



/s/ Brian D. Davis                    By: /s/ David R. Clark
--------------------------------         --------------------------------------
Brian D. Davis                           David R. Clark
Secretary                                President

(Corporate Seal)

                               GUARANTY OF PAYMENT

         The undersigned absolutely and unconditionally guarantee their
Proportionate Share of any payment, when due, to any holder hereof from time to
time owing under this Note, and their Proportionate Share upon demand of the
entire amount owing on this Note in the event of default in payment by the
maker. Except as set forth in said Note, the undersigned waive notice of
acceptance of this guaranty, of any extensions in time of payment and of all
other notices to which the undersigned would be otherwise entitled by law and
agree to pay all amounts owing hereunder, upon demand, without requiring any
action or proceeding against the maker or any of its property and hereby
expressly waive any rights conferred under N.C.G.S. ss.26-7 et seq.. The
undersigned acknowledge that they have read and reviewed the Note and hereby
acknowledge themselves as fully bound by all provisions of this Note. If suit is
brought to enforce this guaranty agreement, the undersigned agree to pay their
Proportionate Share of the reasonable attorney's fees of any holder.

         For purposes herein, "Proportionate Share" shall mean that percentage
equal to their respective share ownership in the corporate maker at the time of
the execution of this instrument, said percentage being shown beside the name of
each signatory hereto.


                                     /s/ James C. Richardson, Jr.         (SEAL)
                                     -------------------------------------
                                     James C. Richardson, Jr. - 52.88%


                                     /s/ David R. Clark                   (SEAL)
                                     -------------------------------------
                                     David R. Clark - 35.25%


                                     /s/ James M. Templeton               (SEAL)
                                     -------------------------------------
                                     James M. Templeton - 11.87%