THE EMPIRE IS WOBBLY

Resignation of Empire’s Chief Highlights Challenges for Kosher Poultry Giant

(Story in this week”s Kosher Today):

(Mifflintown, PA) The abrupt resignation of Robert Van Naarden, president & CEO of Empire Kosher Poultry, has put a huge spotlight on the world’s largest producer of kosher poultry.

Kosher food sources say that Empire’s continued struggle to recapture its dominance of yesteryear has been made more difficult by a radically changed environment in the industry. The company has faced increased competition from such domestic producers as Agri, but has also had to cope with rising imports from Canada as well as Israel. One industry source told Kosher Today that “a generation of loyal Empire customers has passed on without being replaced by the next generation.” Van Naarden’s attempts to capture more of the growing Orthodox market may also have run into stiff competition from other producers and from reluctance by the Orthodox to change brands. Van Naarden was Empire’s President and CEO since February, 2004, after Palisades Associates purchased the company from J. W. Childs. Mr. Van Naarden said in his statement to Empire’s board of directors that after his 2 years at Empire “it was time to move on, as he has contributed to the company to the extent of his abi lities and felt comfortable that he is leaving it in a much better state than when he arrived.” He will remain a consultant to Empire during the next twelve months. Greg Rosenbaum, President of Palisades Associates and Chairman of Empire’s Board of Directors, will assume the role of acting CEO as a nationwide search begins for a new Chief Executive. Rabbi Israel Weiss was named Vice President of Rabbinical and Kashrus Affairs. Rabbi Weiss has been with Empire over 20 years and was most recently Director of Rabbinical Affairs.

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Shucks, we are no experts, but here are two suggestions that could help:

Lower your astronomical prices to somewhere just above affordable rather than what they are today.

Second:
Produce a cleaner bird. Others seem to be able to do it, why can”t Empire?

rebrapp