PENNSYLVANIA — Three family-owned Pennsylvania companies — Bassetts Ice Cream, Straub Brewery, and The Rowland Company — have been ranked among the nation’s most sought-after employers by job seekers, according to a new survey by financial media firm MarketBeat.
The nationwide poll of 3,012 job seekers highlighted how family-run firms continue to attract interest for their stability, heritage, and hands-on leadership culture — qualities often seen as antidotes to the impersonal nature of large corporations.
Philadelphia’s Bassetts Ice Cream, founded in 1861, ranked #4 overall, earning recognition as America’s oldest ice cream company. Now in its fifth generation of family ownership, Bassetts remains a fixture at Reading Terminal Market and has expanded internationally, blending its old-fashioned craftsmanship with modern branding and distribution.
Straub Brewery of St. Marys placed #36 on the list. Established in 1872, Straub is the third-oldest family-owned brewery in the United States, still operated by descendants of founder Peter Straub. Known for its returnable “pounder” bottles and community-focused ethos, the brewery continues to produce its flagship lagers with an emphasis on tradition and regional pride.
The Rowland Company, based in Philadelphia and founded in 1732, ranked #42. As Pennsylvania’s oldest continuously operating business — and the third-oldest in the nation — Rowland has evolved from crafting wagon springs and shovels to supplying industrial power transmission products. It remains family-led, demonstrating resilience across nearly three centuries of economic and technological change.
“Family-owned businesses have a way of combining tradition with innovation,” said Matt Paulson, founder of MarketBeat. “Employees often feel they’re contributing to something that lasts beyond quarterly profits, and that sense of belonging can be a powerful draw.”
The survey’s top-ranked employer was The Breakers, the legendary Palm Beach resort founded by railroad magnate Henry Flagler in 1896 and still operated by his descendants. Other notable family-run firms in the top ten included Zippy’s in Honolulu, Guittard Chocolate Company in California, and Columbia Restaurant in Tampa.
The findings highlight the enduring appeal of legacy companies that balance history with modern relevance — a hallmark shared by Pennsylvania’s longest-standing family enterprises.
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