From left: Chris Carey, Craig Edsill and Brad Clemens (Credit: Clemens Family Corp.)
After more than two decades of leadership, CEO and Chairman Craig Edsill will retire from his executive role at the end of the company’s 2026 fiscal year
(The following press release was provided verbatim by Clemens Family Corp.)
The board of directors of Clemens Family Corporation, parent company of Clemens Food Group (CFG), has announced a planned series of senior leadership transitions effective May 1, 2026.
After more than two decades of leadership with Clemens Food Group, Craig Edsill, CEO and chairman of Clemens Family Corporation (CFC), will retire from his executive role at the end of the company’s 2026 fiscal year, April 30, 2026. Edsill will continue to serve as chairman of the CFC Board of Directors, remaining actively engaged in supporting the company’s long-term strategy and governance.
During Edsill’s 23 years of leadership with Clemens, the business grew from $300 million in annual revenue to nearly $3 billion, while total team member count increased from 600 to 6,000. His retirement decision reflects his confidence in the leadership team’s ability to take the organization to the next level. Through this transition, Edsill looks forward to remaining closely connected to the business and supporting its leaders in his role as board chair.
As part of this transition, Brad Clemens, currently president of Clemens Food Group, will be elevated to chief executive officer of Clemens Family Corporation. Clemens represents the company’s fifth generation of family leadership and brings deep experience from across the organization, having led teams in food safety, quality, regulatory affairs, research and development, customer solutions, and enterprise strategy. Prior to joining CFG in 2011, Clemens practiced corporate law at Blank Rome LLP in Philadelphia.
Named president of CFG in 2021, his leadership is grounded in stewardship, collaboration, and long-term thinking—qualities that closely align with Clemens’ values and future direction.
In conjunction with Clemens’ transition, Chris Carey, currently chief operating officer of Clemens Food Group, will assume the role of president of Clemens Food Group. Carey has more than 17 years of experience at CFG, with leadership roles spanning finance, supply chain, operations, and customer solutions. His broad, hands-on understanding of the business, combined with a people-centered leadership approach, positions him well to lead CFG’s continued growth and expansion.
Both Clemens and Carey are honored and energized by the opportunity to step into these roles and are deeply committed to guiding and stewarding the organization into the future. They share deep respect for Clemens’ mission, vision and values, and are fully committed to serving the company’s team members, customers, communities, and future generations.
“These leadership transitions are the result of years of thoughtful planning and intentional development,” Edsill said. “Clemens places a high value on steward leadership—building strong foundations, developing leaders from within, and ensuring the company is positioned for long-term success. I have great confidence in the senior leadership team we have in place and in those stepping into these roles. With these changes, Clemens Food Group will move forward with confidence—honoring its past, strengthening its present, and positioning the organization for a strong and sustainable future.”
About Clemens
Founded in 1895, Clemens Family Corporation is a sixth-generation, family-owned, vertically coordinated pork production and real estate company, with sister organizations that include feed milling, farming, processing, transportation, and logistics. As the fifth-largest fresh pork processing company in the United States, Clemens Food Group focuses on supplying high-quality products to its partners through a responsive and sustainable system, while also providing advanced solutions that simplify partners’ operations. Founded on the family values of ethics, integrity, and stewardship, Clemens Food Group is deeply committed to animal care, its team members, and the communities in which it operates. For more information, visit clemensfoodgroup.com.
