Yesterday, Today & Tomorrow

During the 1930s, farmers increasingly identified poultry and egg production as profitable opportunities for their farms, leading to a greater availability of poultry for Carl to purchase and transport.

As Carl’s operations expanded during the 1940s and 1950s, he invested in larger trucks to accommodate the growing industry and number of birds he could transport safely.

In 1967, Carl’s commitment of continuous improvement in operational excellence led to an invention and patented cart system to handle spent hens. This innovative system not only minimized labor but also enabled Carl to load more chickens per day.

In 1972, the legacy of forward-thinking, relationship-building, and hard work continued as Carl’s son, Bill Risser, and son-in-law, Mel Herr, pivotal figures in the business’s growth, became partial owners upon its incorporation as Risser’s Poultry Inc. With their significant contributions, Carl could confidently step back, entrusting the management of the company to Bill and Mel, who were poised to steer Risser’s Poultry toward continued success.

As daily business activity surpassed the capacity of Carl’s home farm in downtown Lititz, the necessity emerged to transition the business location, starting in the late 1960s. By the early 1970s, the business had transitioned just north of Lititz to Bill Risser’s home farm on Union House Rd. Subsequently, an office and garage bays were later added to accommodate the ongoing expansion of the business.

During the 1970s, the local poultry industry experienced significant growth, marked by larger flock sizes and the consumer’s rising demand for commercial eggs. Keeping pace with this growth Bill & Mel continued to make investments in equipment – to facilitate timely spent fowl removals, thereby supporting local farmers in meeting market demands.

All throughout the 1970s, additional trucks and trailers were acquired to accommodate the increasing volume of spent fowl needing transportation for processing.

In late 1983 through 1984, the Pennsylvania poultry industry was severely impacted as the Avian Influenza H2N3 epidemic swept through Lancaster County. As a result, the industry experienced the tragic loss of over 6 million chickens. This outbreak inflicted severe hardships on the poultry industry including Risser’s Poultry, leading to job losses and an uncertain future. In response, Risser’s Poultry, like many others in the industry, sought opportunities to sustain business operations in a reduced capacity, navigating through the challenges with resilience and determination.
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By the late 1980s, Carl’s grandsons, Jeff Risser, son of Bill Risser, and Mike Herr, son of Mel Herr, assumed daily operational responsibilities, working closely alongside their fathers.

In 1989, Risser’s Poultry began the significant investment to utilize carts for their fowl removal and transport operations. Over the next several years this tremendous transition made by Risser’s Poultry and its partners achieved a safer and more efficient alternative to traditional coops for transporting chickens.

In 1993, recognizing that Risser’s Poultry had outgrown its Union House Rd. location, the company took intentional steps and purchased a larger property at 12 Wynfield Dr. in Lititz, PA. This new location positioned the company less than one mile from Carl B. Risser’s original home farm.

Development of the site was completed in 1996 and still serves as its primary location today.

Throughout the 1990s, Jeff and Mike assumed increasing ownership responsibilities within the business, gradually acquiring it from their fathers. This transition culminated in 2000, marking the formal transfer of ownership to the third generation. Jeff and Mike remained determined to uphold the tradition of hard work and dedication which continued to build upon the strong foundation of their fathers and grandfather.

In the late 1990s, Jeff and Mike recognized an opportunity for diversification within the business. In 1998, Risser’s Poultry entered into live poultry production by raising its first broiler flock, supplying live bird markets in New York and New Jersey. This decision enabled the company to partner with local farmers and would later create opportunities for custom pullet rearing and egg production.

In 2004, the company invested in the construction of a specialized engineered cart/coop washing system and new wash bay. This custom process ensured a consistent cleaning and disinfection process to support the efforts of hauling pullets.

In 2008, Risser’s had an opportunity to expand its live production through the ownership and management of its first layer flock dedicated to egg production. This expansion marked a significant step towards broadening the company’s production capabilities and diversification.

In 2020, Risser’s recognized an opportunity to provide additional services to their customers and the poultry industry. Strong leadership and strategic partnerships allowed for the development of Risser’s Poultry Handling Services. This allowed Risser’s Poultry to provide comprehensive poultry services to further demonstrate its commitment to their customer’s.

In recent years, Rissers continues to expand its facilities to support the growing team and industry.