Then…

As the story goes, Hans (who couldn’t speak much English) needed to pick a city in America to live and work in. Bellingham seemed like a good choice since he knew what a BELLY and HAM was. Hans came to the United States in 1928 and, in those early years, worked hard and saved his money. He later returned to Germany and married Emmy Hoff, who had been patiently waiting for him for six years. Upon his return to Washington with his bride in 1934, he settled in Bellingham. That same year he bought B.B. Meat and Sausage Co. (now Hempler Foods Group) which has been operated by the Hempler family ever since.

In the 1960’s Hans’ son, Richard (Dick) Hempler, would begin his journey in the family business learning all of the family recipes and traditions from his father.  Just like his father in those early years, Dick worked hard and saved his money and eventually bought out his father’s business partner in the late 1970’s.

In the early 1980’s a young man by the name of Stephen Bates would begin his career in the meat industry at B&B Sausage which sparked the beginning of a lifelong friendship with Dick Hempler.  Stephen Bates helped lead the initiative to rename the company Hempler’s as well as establish the Hempler’s brand in the Northwest marketplace.  Hempler’s continued to make strides as a regional brand with a retail store at the F Street plant as well as distribution with a number of Northwest retailers and restaurants.

Over the next several decades, Hempler’s specialty hams, bacon and sausage products became renowned across the Northwest, living up to Hans Hempler’s original vision of quality ingredients and small batch crafted authenticity.