Eugene Kang’s journey started in his Korean immigrant parents’ Los Angeles convenience stores where he learned the value of food, community and hard work. Later, on a spring break road trip, he discovered a delicious, hand-crafted beef jerky stand and returned home with an idea that soon became a full-fledged company. He acquired Archer (then Country Archer Provisions) when he was only 22 years old. Fourteen years later, Archer is the No. 1 premium jerky brand in the U.S., known for its real, responsibly sourced ingredients and clean-label products that stand out in a crowded market. Archer’s explosive success is a driving force in the growth of the overall meat snack category.

Under Kang’s leadership, Archer’s 90% year-over-year growth in 2024 outpaced the category's 5.8% growth[i],, and the company is on track for $500 million in top-line revenue by the end of 2026.

A pivotal moment for the company came in 2017 when Kang made the decision to expand Archer’s product portfolio from jerky to meat sticks – that bet is paying off; the stick business is booming. In 2024, Archer’s meat stick sales grew by 187.4%, making the company one of the primary drivers of the overall meat stick category's growth[ii].

In the first half of 2025, under Kang’s leadership, the company underwent a bold brand refresh, which elevated it in a competitive marketplace. Archer also announced a sponsorship of the world champion Los Angeles Dodgers, which brought Archer products to concession stands throughout Dodger Stadium. In the second half of the year, the company will launch its first national marketing campaign and open its second manufacturing facility that will nearly double its production to meet surging demand and further vertically integrate its operations, an approach Kang strongly champions.

Kang holds a coveted spot as a Forbes 30 Under 30 All Star Alumnus and is frequently tapped by top-tier press for his leadership expertise and commentary on industry trends. He’s been featured in ABC News, Entrepreneur, Forbes, Fortune, GoodMorningAmerica.com, Inc., Los Angeles Times, Money Magazine and many more. Under his leadership, Archer has also been ranked on the Inc. 500 Regionals (Pacific) and Inc. 5000 list as one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S. for multiple years running.

[i] SPINS, Total U.S., latest 24 weeks ending 12/19/24

[ii] SPINS, MULO & Natural, Latest 24 weeks ending 12/29/24