Hempler’s Foods Group

What Hempler’s Foods Group does

Hempler's Foods Group is a fourth-generation, family-owned meat products company headquartered in Ferndale, Washington, founded in 1934 when Hans Hempler acquired B.B. Meat and Sausage Co. The company produces a diversified portfolio of small-batch, hardwood-smoked meats including bacon (Original Center Cut, European Style, Uncured, No Sugar), hams (Black Forest, Virginia, Spiral Sliced, Uncured), smoked sausages, fresh sausages, franks, chicken roasts, protein snacks (beef jerky, pepperoni sticks, landjaeger, teriyaki sticks), and a new charcuterie line. Its core technology is traditional small-batch meat processing with hardwood smoking and a 4-5 day pepperoni drying cycle, executed without MSG, gluten, phosphates, or artificial ingredients; products are sweetened with organic honey from GloryBee in select SKUs. The company markets through five distinct revenue streams: regional retail grocery (Haggen, Fred Meyer, Safeway/Albertsons, Central Market, QFC, Costco.com), food service and hospitality (Seattle Mariners, Cheney Stadium, Crystal Mountain Ski Resort, restaurant partners), club/wholesale (Costco, Cash & Carry), e-commerce (AmazonFresh), and a distributor network of 20+ regional wholesalers. Hempler's operates a channel-partner GTM motion with no direct-to-consumer owned storefront, sustained by long-tenured ingredient supplier partnerships (Three Sisters Farm, Schenk Packing, Dick Bedlington Farms) and co-branded retailer exclusives such as the Fred Meyer Flame Crafted Ham line. The business remains privately held with no institutional capital, led by the Hempler family across four generations.

Name

Hempler’s Foods Group

Legal name

Hempler's Foods Group

Website

https://hemplers.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1934

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Hempler's Foods Group is a fourth-generation, family-owned small-batch meat producer in Ferndale, Washington, crafting hardwood-smoked bacon, hams, sausages, franks, and protein snacks sold across Pacific Northwest grocery, food service, club, and e-commerce channels.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Specialty Meat Products

NAICS

Meat Processed from Carcasses (311612), Food Manufacturing (311)

SIC

Sausages & Other Prepared Meat Products (2013), Food And Kindred Products (2000)

akta.pro primary industry

Further Processing (Cooked, Smoked, Cured & Deli Meats) (AFAKALAD)

akta.pro secondary industries

Cured Meats (Dry-Cured, Wet-Cured, Hams, Bacon) (AFANAEAA), Fermented & Air-Dried Charcuterie (Salami, Pepperoni, Prosciutto-Style) (AFANAEAE), Poultry Cured/Smoked & Deli Products (Turkey Ham, Deli Slices, Bacon-Style) (AFANACAD)

Keywords

• Specialty cured meats
• Hardwood smoked bacon
• Artisanal sausages
• Premium hams
• Small batch jerky

Headquarters

HQ city

Ferndale

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Retail Meat Products: Sale of packaged meat products (bacon, ham, sausages, chicken roasts, protein snacks) through grocery retail stores across the Pacific Northwest region.
2. Food Service: Bulk meat products supplied to restaurants, hospitality venues, and food service operators.
3. E-commerce: Products sold through online retail platforms including AmazonFresh and Costco.com.
4. Wholesale/Club: Products distributed through club stores and wholesale distributors for bulk purchase.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Hempler's Foods Group is a fourth-generation family-owned manufacturer of specialty cured meats headquartered in Ferndale, Washington. The company produces premium bacon, hams, sausages, franks, chicken roasts, beef jerky, pepperoni sticks, and charcuterie items sold under its own brand through Pacific Northwest grocery retailers and food-service operators. Products are made using traditional family recipes brought from 1800s Germany and small-batch hardwood-smoking processes.

Product overview

Hempler's Foods Group is a small-batch crafted meat products company with a diverse portfolio spanning bacon, hams, sausages, fresh poultry, and protein snacks. The core products include Original Center Cut Bacon and European Style Bacon (smoked over natural hardwoods), Black Forest Ham, Uncured Ham, Virginia Ham, and Gourmet Spiral Sliced Hams (sweetened with organic honey). The company offers fully cooked smoked sausages (Andouille, Italian varieties) and Franks including Seattle Mariners Beef Franks. Fresh offerings include Chorizo, Italian Sausage, and seasonal Potato Sausage. Protein snacks include three varieties of Beef Jerky (Classic, Bourbon & Brown Sugar, Teriyaki), Pepperoni Sticks, Landjaeger, and Teriyaki Style Meat Sticks. Poultry products include Artisan Chicken Roasts (Plain, Sun Dried Tomato, Pepper flavors) and Chicken Breast Skewers. Recent additions include Charcuterie Trio and Smoked Salami for pre-built snack boards. All products are crafted using time-honored family recipes dating to 1800s Germany, with emphasis on being free of MSG, gluten, and artificial ingredients.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Center Cut Bacon Hempler's signature center-cut bacon, hardwood-smoked in small batches using traditional 1800s German recipes brought to the Pacific Northwest by founder Hans Hempler; intended for everyday consumer and food-service use.
• European Style Shoulder Bacon European-style shoulder bacon, an old-world cured pork product referencing the company's German recipe heritage; targeted at regional consumers seeking traditional European-style cured meats.
• Uncured Bacon Uncured bacon from Hempler's, produced without added nitrates or nitrites under traditional methods; targeted at consumers seeking clean-label bacon alternatives.
• No Sugar Bacon No-sugar-added bacon launched by Hempler's in 2024, extending the company's smoked-bacon portfolio to meet growing consumer demand for low- and no-sugar cured meat options at Pacific Northwest retailers.
• Black Forest Ham Black Forest Ham, a traditional German-style cured and smoked ham produced by Hempler's using the company's 1800s heritage recipes; targeted at regional consumers and food-service customers seeking authentic European-style hams.
• Uncured Ham Hempler's Uncured Ham, produced without added nitrates or nitrites under traditional curing methods; targeted at consumers seeking clean-label ham alternatives.
• Virginia Ham Virginia Ham from Hempler's, an American-style dry-cured ham product; targeted at regional consumers seeking traditional cured hams.
• Ham Off the Bone Ham Off the Bone, a boneless whole ham from Hempler's; targeted at consumers and food-service operators seeking a convenient boneless ham format for slicing and serving.
• Gourmet Spiral Sliced Half Ham Gourmet Spiral Sliced Half Ham, a premium boneless spiral-sliced ham product from Hempler's; targeted at consumers seeking an upscale presentation for holiday and special-occasion meals.
• Fred Meyer Flame Crafted Ham Fred Meyer Flame Crafted Ham, a co-branded/private-label flame-crafted ham product produced by Hempler's for the Fred Meyer Pacific Northwest grocery banner; targeted at Fred Meyer shoppers seeking premium ham.
• Double Smoked Ham Double Smoked Ham, a Hempler's ham product smoked twice over hardwoods for intensified smoke flavor; targeted at consumers seeking a more heavily smoked cured ham option.
• Uncured Oven Roasted Chicken Uncured Oven Roasted Chicken roast from Hempler's; targeted at consumers seeking a clean-label whole-muscle poultry roast for everyday meals.
• Artisan Chicken Roast Artisan Chicken Roast, a premium small-batch chicken roast from Hempler's; targeted at consumers seeking an upscale, artisan-style ready-to-eat poultry roast.
• Beef Jerky Hempler's Beef Jerky, extending the company's protein offerings into the snack category; targeted at regional consumers seeking premium, small-batch beef jerky.
• Pepperoni Sticks Pepperoni Sticks, cured and dried using Hempler's proprietary 4-5 day drying process and custom spice blend; targeted at consumers and food-service operators seeking premium snack stick and pizza/charcuterie applications.

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered flagship, core and minor.

• Make-A-Wish Alaska & WashingtonflagshipStrategic or Co-development Partner · 25 March 2024Multi-year partnership where Hempler's donates $75 per double hit by Seattle Mariners throughout each season to Make-A-Wish. 2023 campaign raised $21,150. Also partnered with Mariners at T-Mobile Park for Double Smoked sausage purchases.
• Three Sisters FarmcoreOthersSustainable meat supplier partner in Oak Harbor, Washington providing quality pork, beef, chicken, and turkey for Hempler's products.
• GloryBee HoneycoreOthersFamily-owned organic honey supplier since 1975 based in Eugene, OR. Provides organic honey for Hempler's bone-in and boneless holiday hams.
• Dick Bedlington FarmscoreOthersThird-generation family farm spanning over 1,000 acres near Lynden, WA (northern Washington border). Supplier of potatoes for Hempler's seasonal potato sausage for over 15 years.
• North American SeasoningscoreTechnology or IntegrationSpice supplier based in Kent, WA with USDA-certified organic production facility providing seasonings for Hempler's meat products.
• Schenk Packing Co.coreOthersNatural beef supplier from Mount Vernon, WA for over ten years. Provides grass-fed cattle that have never been injected with antibiotics or hormones, with weekly inspections and third-party auditing.
• Seattle MarinersflagshipGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial Hot Dog From Heaven partner; Hempler's Seattle Mariners Beef Franks served at T-Mobile Park; joint marketing campaigns with Make-A-Wish
• Behind the Badge FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual sponsor of Fun with the Fuzz 5k Run since 2010; 100% of proceeds donated to families of fallen officers through the foundation.
• Dementia Support NWminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsored fundraiser BBQ at Haggen Barkly in June 2024 to support programs and services for dementia patients and families.
• Ferndale First RespondersminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAnnual 'Night Shift' event honoring first responders with BBQ service and Hempler sausages.
• Bear's Breath KetchupminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSeattle-based condiment brand featured in Hempler's chorizo burger recipes; complementary local PNW food brand partnership with exclusive discount code for Hempler's customers.
• USO NorthwestcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSponsor of USO Northwest Red, White & Blue Golf Classic (largest military support tournament in Pacific Northwest) supporting four onsite USO centers and three mobile units.
• Blue RibboncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor based in Wenatchee, WA (509-662-2181)
• DPI NorthwestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor serving Seattle, WA and Portland, OR (503-692-0662)
• Food Service Inc.coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor based in Mount Vernon, WA (800-562-2011)
• US FoodservicecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDistributor based in Fife, WA (253-620-9000)

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Applegate Farms: Applegate Farms is a leading natural and organic processed meat brand (antibiotic-free, no added sugar, no MSG), directly comparable to Hempler's clean-label positioning across bacon, sausage, and deli meats. Owned by Hormel, it represents the scaled national version of Hempler's craft-meat playbook.
• Niman Ranch: Niman Ranch is a premium, sustainably-raised meat brand offering bacon, ham, sausage, and charcuterie. Its heritage, antibiotic-free sourcing, and natural foods distribution closely parallel Hempler's heritage recipes, hardwood smoking, and clean-label positioning.
• Smoking Goose Meatery: Smoking Goose is an Indianapolis-based artisan charcuterie and small-batch cured meat brand, directly comparable to Hempler's Landjaeger, pepperoni, salami, and small-batch smoking approach with regional craft positioning.
• Tillamook Country Smoker: Tillamook Country Smoker is an Oregon-based jerky and smoked meat snack maker with comparable small-batch craft heritage, Pacific Northwest roots, and natural ingredient positioning, sold through similar retail and club channels.
• Pederson's Natural Farms: Pederson's is a natural, clean-label bacon, ham, and sausage brand (no sugar, no nitrates, no MSG) — a near-direct product analog to Hempler's uncured bacon and clean-label ham lines, with broader national e-commerce reach.

Broad incumbents

• Boar's Head Provision Co. Boar's Head is the dominant premium deli meat brand in U.S. retail, offering hams, sausages, and franks. While much larger and broader in scope, it competes with Hempler's for the same premium deli/shelf space at retailers like Fred Meyer and Safeway.

Emerging players

• True Story Foods: True Story is a clean-label, humanely-raised processed meat brand (sausages, hot dogs, deli meats) competing for the same natural-foods and premium grocery customer as Hempler's, with broader national distribution.

Regional players

• Diestel Family Ranch: Diestel Family Ranch is a Pacific Northwest-based, family-owned, sustainably-raised turkey and poultry brand. Shares Hempler's PNW regional focus, family ownership model, and natural/antibiotic-free positioning in adjacent protein categories.
• Painted Hills Natural Beef: Painted Hills is an Oregon-based natural, grass-fed beef brand sold primarily in Pacific Northwest grocery. Comparable to Hempler's in regional footprint, family-farm sourcing model, and clean-label positioning, though it focuses on raw beef cuts.
• Olympic Mountain Products: Olympic Mountain Products is a Pacific Northwest specialty meat and jerky manufacturer selling through regional grocery and club channels. Comparable as a PNW-based craft protein producer competing for similar shelf space and customer.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/HemplersFoods
• Facebookfacebook.com/hemplers

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

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 Hempler’s Foods Group