[3][4] In the 1930s and 1940s, the Katz family recruited the rabbis required for the kosher production process from Mandatory Palestine as well as Jewish communities in Europe, and the company initially operated out of a garage in Liberty, New York.

Katz purchased a processing plant in Mifflintown, and expanded production in order to meet the demand provided by the growing Jewish middle class.

[7] Empire currently processes 240,000 chickens and 27,000 turkeys per week, with annual revenue over $100 million, making it the largest U.S. producer of kosher poultry.

[2][11] In 2010, Empire acquired the Kosher Valley brand from natural and organic foods producer Hain Celestial Group.

Until 20 July 2020, kosher supervision was also provided by K'hal Adath Jeshurun (KAJ), an Orthodox Jewish congregation and synagogue located in the Washington Heights neighborhood of New York City.

[20] Cook's Illustrated regularly recommends Empire kosher chickens and turkeys in part due to this distinctive taste.