Empire Kosher
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAmerican kosher poultry brand and producer headquartered in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania.
Last updated August 24, 2026
AI crawler reads
No AI crawler has read this profile yet.
Overview
Empire Kosher is an American kosher poultry brand operated by Empire Kosher Poultry, Inc., a producer of kosher chicken and turkey headquartered in Mifflintown, Pennsylvania. The company describes itself as a vertically integrated poultry business, with an on-site hatchery, a processing facility, and a network of family farms located near its Pennsylvania headquarters. It is identified as the largest producer of kosher poultry in the United States. The business was founded in 1938 in Liberty, New York, by Joseph N. Katz, an Austrian-Jewish immigrant. During its early years, the company operated from a garage and recruited rabbis from Jewish communities in Europe and from Mandatory Palestine to supervise the religious requirements of kosher production. The name Empire refers to New York State, whose nickname is the Empire State. Under the Katz family, including Joseph Katz's son Murray, the company developed a reputation for innovation in kosher food production during the 1950s. In the early 1960s, Empire moved from Liberty to Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, after the Katz family acquired a local processing plant. The relocation allowed the company to expand production in response to the growth of the American Jewish middle class. Empire was also an early kosher food producer to pursue distribution through mainstream supermarkets rather than limiting sales to specialty kosher retailers. That strategy helped make kosher poultry more accessible to a wider consumer base. A major setback came in 1986, when a fire destroyed the production line at the Mifflintown facility. The Katz family invested almost $20 million in rebuilding and modernizing the plant. In 1992, the business was sold to Apollo Management and later changed hands again, moving to J.W. Childs Associates. The company carried substantial debt during this period. In 2003, a consortium of private investors led by Greg Rosenbaum acquired Empire and subsequently invested in plant modernization and production expansion. The company reported that its capacity had more than doubled by 2009. Empire's core business is kosher poultry, especially whole birds and poultry cuts made from chicken and turkey. The company has also offered organic products and acquired the Kosher Valley brand from Hain Celestial Group in 2010. Hain Celestial later announced in 2015 that it would acquire the remaining approximately 80 percent of EK Holdings and its wholly owned Empire Kosher Poultry subsidiary for $57.6 million, including net debt repaid at closing. Aterian Investment Partners acquired Empire from Hain in 2019. Production combines industrial poultry processing with religious supervision. Empire states that it hatches its own birds, works with small family farms within roughly 90 miles of Mifflintown, and maintains traceability from farm to finished product. Its stated production standards include vegetarian feed, no antibiotics, no growth hormones, cage-free and free-roaming conditions, and recurring third-party animal-welfare audits. The company has also promoted organic poultry and a 'Green Kosher' positioning emphasizing environmental and animal-welfare considerations. Kosher processing at the Mifflintown facility is overseen by a large rabbinical team. The plant includes on-site facilities used by supervising rabbis, including dormitories, a mikvah, and a synagogue. Empire products have been certified by the Orthodox Union and by named Orthodox rabbis, although one former supervising organization, K'hal Adath Jeshurun, withdrew its certification in July 2020 following a disagreement with company management. Empire has also been associated with community food donations, unionized employment represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776, and public recognition for charitable activity. Its market identity rests on combining strict kosher supervision with supermarket availability, poultry quality, and claims concerning animal welfare and responsible production.
History
Empire Kosher began in 1938 in Liberty, New York, where Austrian-Jewish immigrant Joseph N. Katz established a kosher poultry business. The early operation was modest and initially worked from a garage, but it required sophisticated religious oversight. During the company's first decades, the Katz family brought in rabbis from Europe and Mandatory Palestine to supervise slaughter and other aspects of kosher production. The brand's name was derived from New York State's nickname, the Empire State. The Katz family, including Joseph's son Murray, controlled and operated the company for roughly its first half-century. During the 1950s, Empire was described as an innovator in kosher food manufacturing. Its growth reflected both increased demand for kosher products and the expansion of the American Jewish middle class. In the early 1960s, the company moved to Mifflintown, Pennsylvania, approximately 40 miles from Harrisburg. The family acquired a processing plant there and expanded operations. Empire became one of the first kosher food companies to pursue distribution through conventional supermarkets, helping move kosher poultry from a primarily specialty-retail channel into broader grocery distribution. The Mifflintown operation suffered a serious fire in 1986, when the production line was destroyed. The Katz family reportedly invested nearly $20 million to rebuild and modernize the facility. In 1992, ownership passed to Apollo Management. Several years later, the company was sold to J.W. Childs Associates. The business carried a high debt burden during this phase of private-equity ownership. A consortium of private investors led by Greg Rosenbaum purchased Empire in 2003. Under this ownership, the company modernized and expanded its plant and production line. By 2009, reported production capacity had more than doubled. The company was described as processing approximately 240,000 chickens and 27,000 turkeys per week, with annual revenue above $100 million, although these historical operating and financial figures should not be treated as current without newer documentation. Empire's operating model includes an on-site hatchery in Mifflintown and poultry raised on small family farms within approximately 90 miles of the processing plant. The company states that its birds are traceable to their farms and are raised with vegetarian feed, without antibiotics or growth hormones, and in cage-free, free-roaming conditions. It has offered organic products and promoted a 'Green Kosher' campaign linking kosher production with environmental and animal-welfare claims. The company has also received favorable coverage concerning its animal-welfare and environmental practices and has undergone third-party audits, including audits conducted by customers such as Whole Foods and Costco. Kosher supervision is central to the plant's identity. A team of rabbis oversees slaughter and processing, and the facility includes dormitories, a mikvah, and a synagogue for the supervising personnel. Empire products have been certified by the Orthodox Union and by Rabbi Yechiel Babad and Rabbi Aaron Teitelbaum. K'hal Adath Jeshurun also provided supervision until July 20, 2020, when it withdrew its certification following a disagreement with management. The withdrawal is a notable governance and certification event, but the available reference does not establish the precise terms of the dispute. The company broadened its brand portfolio in 2010 by acquiring Kosher Valley from Hain Celestial Group. In March 2015, Hain announced the acquisition of the remaining approximately 80 percent of EK Holdings and its subsidiary Empire Kosher Poultry for $57.6 million, including net debt repaid at closing. Aterian Investment Partners acquired Empire from Hain in 2019. Empire has also maintained a unionized workforce represented by United Food and Commercial Workers Local 1776 and has donated kosher food to community food pantries. The company's long-term market position is built on the combination of religious certification, vertically integrated poultry production, supermarket reach, and claims related to quality, animal welfare, and environmental responsibility.
- 2020
K'hal Adath Jeshurun ended its certification
[1]KAJ withdrew kosher supervision from Empire on July 20 following a disagreement with management.
- 2019
Aterian Investment Partners acquired Empire
[1]Empire changed ownership again when Aterian Investment Partners purchased it from Hain Celestial.
- 2015
Hain Celestial announced a full acquisition of Empire
[1]Hain Celestial announced its purchase of the remaining approximately 80 percent of EK Holdings and its Empire subsidiary.
- 2010
Empire acquired Kosher Valley
[1]Empire purchased the Kosher Valley brand from Hain Celestial Group.
- 2003
A private investor consortium acquired Empire
[1]A consortium led by Greg Rosenbaum acquired the company and began modernization and capacity expansion.
- 1992
Apollo Management acquired Empire
[1]Ownership transferred from the Katz family to private-equity firm Apollo Management.
- 1986
A fire destroyed the Mifflintown production line
[1]The company rebuilt and modernized the facility after a major fire, with the Katz family investing nearly $20 million.
- 1960
Operations moved to Mifflintown, Pennsylvania
[1]The Katz family relocated the business and acquired a processing plant in Mifflintown, where the company remains headquartered.
- 1950
The company developed a reputation for kosher-production innovation
[1]During the 1950s, Empire was described as an innovator in kosher food production.
- 1938
Empire Kosher was founded in Liberty, New York
[1]Joseph N. Katz founded the kosher poultry business that became Empire Kosher.
Products and positioning
A mainstream-accessible kosher poultry producer combining Orthodox religious supervision with vertically integrated production, supermarket distribution, and stated animal-welfare and environmental standards.
Kosher poultry
Empire Kosher Chicken
The brand's core product line consists of kosher chicken sold as whole birds and in fresh or frozen cuts. Production takes place under rabbinical supervision and uses the company's stated process for kosher slaughter, salting, inspection, and preparation. Empire's chicken is distributed through kosher retailers and mainstream supermarkets.
Kosher poultry
Empire Kosher Turkey
Empire's turkey range is a major part of its poultry portfolio and includes whole turkeys and turkey products. The company states that its turkeys are raised through its regional family-farm network and processed under kosher supervision at the Mifflintown facility.
Organic kosher poultry
Empire Organic
The organic line extends Empire's kosher offering to poultry marketed under organic standards. It forms part of the company's broader effort to associate kosher food with natural, animal-welfare, and environmental attributes.
Kosher food brand
Kosher Valley
Kosher Valley was a separate kosher brand acquired by Empire from Hain Celestial Group in 2010. The acquisition expanded Empire's branded portfolio, although the available reference does not provide a complete current product or ownership history for the label.
Controversies
2020
K'hal Adath Jeshurun withdrew kosher certification
K'hal Adath Jeshurun withdrew its kosher certification of Empire on July 20, 2020, after a disagreement with company management. The available material does not specify the substance of the disagreement or allege a finding of product misconduct.
Marketing campaigns
- 2010Green Kosher
United States
Empire promoted a 'Green Kosher' campaign that connected kosher poultry with environmental responsibility, animal welfare, and stated production practices such as cage-free housing and traceability.
Outcome. The available reference records the campaign and related positive coverage but does not provide a quantified commercial outcome.
Brand decisions
2020
Respond to the withdrawal of KAJ certificationOtherBackground
K'hal Adath Jeshurun ended its kosher supervision after a disagreement with Empire management.
Action taken
KAJ withdrew its certification on July 20, 2020; Empire continued to be associated in the reference material with other kosher certifying authorities.
Aftermath
The available sources do not document the longer-term commercial or certification consequences.
2019
Aterian Investment Partners acquired EmpireM&ABackground
Empire was owned by Hain Celestial after the 2015 transaction.
Action taken
Aterian Investment Partners purchased Empire from Hain Celestial.
Aftermath
Empire returned to private-equity ownership.
2015
Hain Celestial moved to full ownership of EmpireM&ABackground
Hain Celestial already held part of EK Holdings and announced a transaction for the remaining approximately 80 percent.
Action taken
Hain Celestial announced the acquisition of the remaining interest in EK Holdings and Empire Kosher Poultry.
Aftermath
Empire became a wholly owned subsidiary of Hain Celestial.
Purchase price. $57.6 million (2015 announcement; included net debt repaid at closing)
2010
Acquire the Kosher Valley brandM&ABackground
Empire sought to broaden its branded kosher food portfolio.
Action taken
Empire acquired Kosher Valley from Hain Celestial Group.
Aftermath
The transaction added another kosher brand to Empire's portfolio.
1986
Rebuild and modernize after the Mifflintown fireStrategyBackground
A fire destroyed the company's production line at its Pennsylvania facility.
Action taken
The Katz family invested nearly $20 million to rebuild and modernize the plant.
Aftermath
The rebuilt facility supported the company's subsequent production expansion.
Rebuilding investment. $20 million approximately (1986)
Recent events
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Empire Kosher closes Pennsylvania processing plant[4]
Empire Kosher closed its Pennsylvania processing plant after two employees tested positive for coronavirus. The article reports that the plant was scheduled to reopen on April 13.
- Unconfirmed
Reported
Empire Kosher closes Pennsylvania processing plant[5]
Empire Kosher closed its Pennsylvania processing plant after two employees tested positive for coronavirus. The plant was scheduled to reopen on April 13, and the report said the state did not order the closure.
Sources7 sources
- 1Empire Kosheren.wikipedia.org
- 2Inside Empire's slaughterhouse: The life of a kosher chickenjta.org
- 3Empire Strikes Backforward.com
- 4Empire Kosher关闭宾夕法尼亚州加工厂israelnationalnews.com
- 5Empire Kosher 关闭宾夕法尼亚州加工厂vinnews.com
- 6Empire Kosher Closes Chicken Processing Plant for 2 Weeks After Employees Test Positive for the Coronavirusjewishjournal.com
- 7Empire Kosher closes processing plant after employees contract corona | The Jerusalem Postjpost.com
Cite this profile: Cite the canonical profile. /brand-wiki/empire-kosher · Editorial policy · How profiles are compiled