Family-owned business

Families offer us stability, laughter, and support no matter what, but what happens when you go into business with the ones you love? It’s not always easy for parents, siblings, or extended family to work together, but many people have chosen this path. And, as we discovered, there are plenty of family-owned businesses that have ultimately led to some pretty innovative, creative—and delicious—results.

What Are Family-Owned Businesses?

Any business where two or more family members control a company or own a majority stake are considered family-owned. Farms are one of the earliest examples of family-owned businesses, and today all sorts of family-owned businesses—from snack brands to skin care brands—play a vital role in the U.S. economy.

Benefits of Shopping With Family-Owned Businesses

There are lots of pluses when you choose to support family-owned businesses with your shopping dollars. Here are just a few:

Looking ahead: Family businesses tend to focus on the long-term. They’re not in business to quickly make a profit and sell their business. They’re building a livelihood, a fan base, and their brand over time.
Quality control: With their name on the line, quality plays a huge part in family businesses. Family businesses tend to be sticklers about ingredients, purveyors, and storytelling.
Employee-focused: Family-owned businesses care deeply about the welfare of their employees, whether they’re related to the founders or not. There can often be a sense of real camaraderie among staff, with strong benefits, professional development support, and involvement in the local community.

Top Family-Owned Brands

From snack makers to hemp extract purveyors (plus spicy condiment specialists), here are three great family-owned businesses worth knowing.

Jackson’s Honest

The husband-and-wife team who started Jackson’s Honest never set out to build a food brand. But when their son began experiencing health problems, they took matters into their own hands and inspired an entire community in the process.

Jackson’s Honest Sweet Potato Chips

What makes these chips so special? It’s all about the oil. These spuds are fried in organic coconut oil and seasoned with a dash of pure sea salt. Satisfying your cravings never tasted so good.

Charlotte’s Web

Charlotte’s Web is a hemp extract oil company run by seven brothers and based in Colorado. When making its popular hemp extract oil products, the brand focuses on quality, consistency, and integrity in everything from planting and harvesting to processing.

Charlotte’s Web Full Strength Hemp Extract Oil

Nope, this hemp extract oil won’t get you high. That’s because it’s made with CBD, the non-psychoactive phytocannabinoid found in the hemp plant. Add it to lattes, smoothies, or even salad dressing for a daily dose.

Mother-in-Law’s

Mother-in-Law’s is all about selecting the best ingredients, using small-batch fermenting techniques, and keeping the bad stuff (like MSG and corn syrup) out of its spicy Gochujang pastes and sauces. The recipes are inspired by Lauryn’s mother’s family restaurant—a TK in TK—so in addition to bold flavor, there’s a lot of love inside every jar.

Gochugaru Chili Pepper Flakes

The gochugaru chili used in this bottle has a moderate heat with smoky, fruity notes. It’s a must-have for homemade kimchi, and also the perfect addition to tacos, chili, or jambalaya.

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