Nathan’s Famous Hot Dogs

Nathan’s Famous is an iconic American brand that traces its roots back to 1916 on Coney Island, Brooklyn. Founded by Nathan Handwerker, a Jewish immigrant from Poland, it started as a small hot dog stand using a recipe developed by his wife, Ida. The brand has since grown into a global powerhouse, synonymous with New York culinary culture and the world-famous International Hot Dog Eating Contest.

Today, the brand operates across multiple tiers. The restaurant and franchise side of the business is managed by Nathan’s Famous, Inc., headquartered in Jericho, New York. However, the retail side—the packaged hot dogs found in grocery stores—is licensed to and manufactured by Smithfield Foods. This partnership ensures that while the branding remains tied to its New York heritage, the production benefits from a massive nationwide supply chain.

Ownership of the brand is currently under the umbrella of WH Group, a major global food company based in China. WH Group acquired Smithfield Foods (and with it, the rights to many Nathan’s retail products) in 2013. Despite this international ownership, Nathan’s maintains a strong domestic identity with a manufacturing presence heavily concentrated in the United States to serve North American retail and food service markets.