County Archer Jerky Co. is one of the nation’s leaders in the multi-billion-dollar meat snacks category. Headquartered in San Bernardino, this fast-growing entrepreneurial manufacturer credits a loyal local workforce and efficient west coast location as important to its continued growth and leadership in the meat snacks category.
While Country Archer was founded in Costa Mesa in 1977 by butcher and artisan jerky maker Celestino “Charlie” Mirarchi the company was relocated to San Bernardino in 2014 after Eugene and Susan Kang took the company over in 2011.
“We recognized the abundant opportunity in San Bernardino given its robust community, strong industrial commerce, and great artisanal appeal. We love the town and its people so much that we could never imagine being anywhere else. In fact, the people of San Bernardino are the ones who keep us going - literally. Our entire team is made up of more than 150 locals who help support our operations and growth. We couldn’t do it without them!” said Eugene Kang, CEO and Co-founder at Country Archer Jerky Co.
Country Archer has now grown from a small commercial kitchen to a fully-functional 30,000-square-foot manufacturing facility. At the San Bernardino headquarters, Country Archer slowly marinates and cooks its meat snacks in small batches for maximum flavor. The food is then packaged and shipped across the U.S., meeting the snack needs of everyone from West Coast surfers to East Coast subway riders.
Country Archer is widely recognized for its taste and ingredients that place the jerky, meat sticks and meat bars above the rest. The company uses better sources of protein to create delicious, unique products that include extra lean cuts of grass-fed beef and antibiotic-free turkey or pork. Country Archer’s latest product is meat-based protein bars made with collagen peptides, an ingredient recognized for improving skin, hair and gut health, and boosting energy output.
Kang added, “If we could sum up the value of our local workforce in one word, it would be ‘hardworking.’ The people of San Bernardino are completely dedicated in working towards our mission to take over the world, or at least take over the No. 1 spot in the $2.9 billion meat snacks category. We’re all a family, which is really important when you work with your neighbors.”
Executives note that San Bernardino is a strategic location because it is conveniently located at the intersection of several major highways that allow Country Archer to easily transport meat snacks to retailers nationwide.
Growth is part of the manufacturer’s future. Just two years ago Country Archer was in 3,250 stores. The brand reached 25,000 stores in 2018 across the nation and launched into Canada for the first time in June.
To support their growth efforts, Country Archer received $950,000 in tax credits as part of the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) California Competes Tax Credit program focused on helping business grow and stay in California. “We appreciated the support of the County and State in providing additional support in our vision to expand our brand across the country and into international markets. It’s so valuable to us to have the commitment of the County,” said Kang.
“We are proud to be Country Archer’s home and appreciate their focus on hiring locally. San Bernardino County is a major supporter of its entrepreneurs and will continue to support companies such as Country Archer and their growth for a long time,” shared San Bernardino County Deputy Executive Officer of Workforce and Economic Development Reg Javier.
Country Archer Jerky Co. is a leading producer of delicious gourmet jerky, meat sticks and meat bars. The largest jerky brand in the natural channel, Country Archer crafts all its meat snacks with high-quality, premium and clean ingredients. Made for outdoor adventurers, busy parents, athletes, and all of the everyday doers who want more from their food, Country Archer pushes the envelope with innovative and mouthwatering flavors, and responsibly-sourced and organic local ingredients. A great source of protein, each meat snack is crafted with gourmet cuts of extra-lean, USDA-inspected 100 percent grass-fed beef, tender antibiotic-free turkey and pork. All Country Archer products are free of nitrites, MSG, gluten, soy, antibiotics and added hormones. Country Archer meat snacks are available nationwide at fine retailers including Kroger, Ralphs, Sprouts, King Soopers, Cost Plus World Market, Gelson’s, Smart and Final, Meijer, Starbucks and more. To learn more about Country Archer, visit www.countryarcher.com, ‘like’ us on Facebook, or follow us on Instagram or Twitter.
Located at the heart of Southern California, an economy of 23 million people, San Bernardino County is the largest county in the United States. Its vast borders stretch from the greater Los Angeles area to the Nevada border and the Colorado River encompassing a total area of 20,160 square miles. Comprised of 24 cities, San Bernardino County encompasses more than two million residents with a workforce of nearly 900,000. Its assets include an innovation corridor of close to two dozen colleges and universities supporting a strong, diverse workforce along with an unparalleled collection of roadways, runways and railways that lead to regional, national and international business centers. Visit www.SBCountyAdvantage.com. Follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn.
