What Empire Kosher Poultry does

Empire Kosher Poultry is the largest kosher poultry producer in the United States, founded in 1938 by Austrian immigrant Joseph N. Katz. The company is fully vertically integrated, operating a single production complex in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, where it hatches, grows, processes, packages, and ships its own chicken and turkey products. All birds are raised on family farms within a 100-mile radius of the facility, and over 50 on-site rabbis enforce kosher standards that exceed USDA requirements. Headcount is in the 501-1,000 range, and the company is privately held as Empire Kosher Poultry, LLC.

The product portfolio centers on kosher chicken (whole birds, cuts, parts), kosher turkey (whole, breast, tenders, ground, deli slices), deli favorites (turkey pastrami, salami, bacon, franks), frozen fully-cooked items, and — as of 2024 — a new premium kosher beef line (brisket, ribeye, ground beef, stew meat). Core processing technologies include a cool-water filtration process designed to reduce bacterial growth and close skin follicles, dual Orthodox Union and Rabbi Babad (Tartikov) certification, USDA inspection, and a Chasidishe Shechita slaughter standard. Products are certified gluten-free (excluding breaded items) and Kosher for Passover, with seasonal variations.

The company monetizes through one-time-product sales of branded packaged poultry and meat to retail distributors and ultimately consumers. Pricing is set at the retailer level and is not publicly disclosed. Go-to-market is multi-channel: mainstream grocery chains, fine grocers nationwide, local kosher butcher shops, and the Kosher Valley sub-brand at Whole Foods Markets. Marketing is driven by recipe content, an email newsletter, Facebook and Instagram presence, holiday menu-planning tools, and a partnership with culinary influencer Naomi Nachman. Primary customer segments are kosher-observant Jewish consumers, health- and animal-welfare-conscious buyers, and mainstream retail shoppers seeking premium protein.

Name

Empire Kosher Poultry

Legal name

Empire Kosher Poultry, LLC

Website

https://empirekosher.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1938

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

Empire Kosher Poultry is the largest U.S. kosher poultry producer, fully vertically integrated from hatchery to shipping in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania. It sells branded kosher chicken, turkey, deli, frozen, and (since 2024) beef products through grocery chains, kosher retailers, and Whole Foods.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Kosher Poultry and Meat Manufacturing

NAICS

Poultry Processing (311615), Animal Slaughtering and Processing (31161), Animal Slaughtering and Processing (3116)

SIC

Poultry Slaughtering And Processing (2015), Meat Packing Plants (2011), Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013)

akta.pro primary industry

Kosher Poultry Processing (Certified) (AFANAIAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Kosher Beef & Veal Processing (Certified) (AFANAIAI), Certified Ready-to-Eat/Ready-to-Heat Prepared Foods (Halal/Kosher) (AFANAIAD), Certified Cold Storage, Handling & Logistics (Halal/Kosher Segregation) (AFANAIAF)

Keywords

• Kosher poultry products
• Kosher meat production
• Poultry processing
• Vertically integrated poultry
• Kosher food manufacturing

Headquarters

HQ city

Mifflintown

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Poultry Product Sales: Sale of kosher chicken, turkey, and beef products through retail grocery distribution channels. Products include whole birds, cuts, deli items, frozen products, and prepared items.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Empire Kosher Poultry produces and distributes kosher-certified chicken, turkey, beef, deli, and frozen poultry products through U.S. retail grocery chains, specialty kosher retailers, and fine grocers. The company hatches, grows, processes, packages, and ships its own products under strict rabbinical oversight, maintaining full vertical integration from farm to retail shelf.

Product overview

Empire Kosher Poultry is a fully integrated kosher food manufacturer producing chicken, turkey, and beef products under strict kosher dietary laws. The company operates as a single unified product line centered on kosher poultry, having expanded to include premium beef products in 2024. Core offerings include fresh and frozen whole birds, cut-up parts, ground meats, and an extensive deli favorites line featuring ready-to-eat products like turkey pastrami, salami, and bacon. The company pioneered innovations including New York Dressed kosher chicken (1941), vacuum-wrapped poultry (1947), retail box cut-up chicken (1955), fully cooked products (1970s), and ready-to-eat delicatessen items (1972). Products are sold through major grocery retailers nationwide under the Empire Kosher brand, with Kosher Valley brand available at Whole Foods Markets.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kosher Valley: A sub-brand sold at Whole Foods Markets as mentioned on the Naomi Nachman page.

Products and services

• Kosher Chicken Products Fresh and frozen kosher chicken products including whole chickens, cut-up chicken, split breasts, drumsticks, thighs, and chicken parts, produced under strict rabbinical supervision with over 50 rabbis overseeing production. Sold through U.S. retail grocery chains, specialty kosher retailers, and fine grocers for kosher-observant and general consumers.
• Kosher Turkey Products Fresh and frozen kosher turkey products including whole turkeys, turkey breasts, turkey tenders, ground turkey, and turkey deli slices, processed under the same rigorous kosher standards and rabbinical oversight as Empire chicken products. Distributed through U.S. retail grocery chains and specialty kosher retailers.
• Premium Kosher Beef Products Premium kosher beef products including brisket, ribeye steak, ground beef, and stew meat, marketed with the same kashrut standards and dual kosher certification as Empire's poultry line. Introduced in 2024 as the company's diversification beyond poultry, supervised by Orthodox Union.
• Kosher Deli Favorites Ready-to-eat kosher deli products including turkey pastrami, turkey salami, turkey bacon, franks, and other sliced deli meats designed for sandwiches, salads, and appetizer trays. Distributed through U.S. grocery retailers and specialty kosher outlets.
• Kosher Frozen Poultry Products Frozen kosher poultry products including fully cooked chicken and turkey items, chicken breast nuggets, children's bites, and breaded tenders for convenient meal preparation. Sold through U.S. retail grocery freezer cases.

Quantifiable outcome

• Rejects twice as many chickens and turkeys as USDA inspectors

Named customers3 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Naomi NachmancoreGTM or Marketing PartnerCulinary enthusiast and cookbook author Naomi Nachman has a decades-long relationship with Empire Kosher and now shares recipes, cooking tips, favorite products, and holiday menu ideas through an official partnership with the company.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Aaron's Best: Aaron's Best is a kosher prepared foods and poultry producer serving the same U.S. kosher consumer base as Empire. It is a direct competitor in the kosher poultry and prepared/del category, including sliced deli meats and ready-to-eat items.
• Wise Kosher Foods: Wise is a long-established U.S. kosher food brand (subsidiary of Sovos Brands) with overlapping poultry and meat product lines. It competes with Empire across kosher deli meats and shelf-stable products in mainstream grocery.
• Hebrew National: Hebrew National (a Conagra Brands subsidiary) is one of the most recognizable U.S. kosher meat and poultry brands. It directly competes with Empire Kosher across kosher poultry, deli meats, and beef, sharing the same core kosher-observant consumer target and retail grocery channels.
• Meal Mart: Meal Mart is a U.S. kosher prepared foods brand specializing in deli meats, frozen entrées, and ready-to-eat items. It competes directly with Empire's Deli Favorites and frozen product lines for the same kosher-observant household.

Broad incumbents

• Perdue Farms: Perdue is a major U.S. poultry producer with antibiotic-free, organic, and premium lines that compete with Empire for the health-conscious consumer segment in mainstream grocery.
• Tyson Foods: Tyson Foods is one of the world's largest poultry processors and a broad food manufacturer. Its Jimmy Dean, Hillshire Farm, and Tyson poultry brands compete for deli, frozen, and refrigerated shelf space adjacent to Empire's products.
• Pilgrim's Pride: Pilgrim's Pride is one of the largest U.S. chicken processors and a JBS subsidiary. It supplies retail and foodservice poultry at scale, competing for the same mainstream grocery and foodservice customers that Empire serves.
• Bell & Evans: Bell & Evans is a premium U.S. poultry producer emphasizing 100% air-chilled, antibiotic-free, and animal-welfare practices. It is closely comparable to Empire's quality/clean-label positioning for non-kosher health-conscious consumers.
• Butterball: Butterball is the largest U.S. turkey producer and a major poultry incumbent. While not kosher-certified, it competes for the same general poultry shelf space and holiday turkey occasions that Empire's turkey products occupy.

Others

• Whole Foods Market: Whole Foods Markets is a key retail customer for Empire (via the Kosher Valley sub-brand). It is included as a peer in the distribution-channel/adjacent sense because of the strategic importance of this premium-grocery partnership to Empire's mainstream positioning.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/EmpireKosherPoultry
• Instagraminstagram.com/empirekosherpoultry
• Xx.com/Empirekosher
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/empire-kosher-poultry

Compliance5 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Empire Kosher Poultry