Clemens Food Group is one of the largest pork producers in the United States, and throughout its 129-year history, the company has always led with humane practices, writes Chloe Sorvino for Forbes.

Now in its sixth generation of family ownership, its current president, 41-year-old Brad Clemens is a former mergers and acquisitions lawyer who, like hundreds of his relatives, grew up in the business.

The Hatfield-based company has been diligent in charting a more humane strategy, putting it at odds with the rest of the industry — and succeeded.

In 2023, when California started enforcing a ban on farms keeping pregnant hogs in crates barely larger than their bodies, some competitors, such as the largest U.S. pork processor, Smithfield, fought against the regulations, even shutting down plants, Clemens, however, saw an opportunity.

The openings led to Clemens more than doubling its market share (2% to 5%), doubling its bacon market share (1% to 2%), and becoming the fifth-largest fresh pork producer in the U.S. at over $2 billion last year.

“We are not afraid,” said Clemens. 

Clemens has doubled down on crate-free production and reinvested more than $1 billion back into the business in the past five years.

Read more about the six-generation family business of Clemens Food Group and how it has succeeded in the industry at Forbes. 

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Editor’s Note: This post first appeared on MONTCO Today in March 2024.