Consumer >> CEO Interviews >> August 14, 2000
GERALD B. SHREIBER, President and CEO of J&J Snack Foods Corp., began
his business career rather auspiciously, starting as a machine shop
trainee with Kulicke & Soffa, a manufacturer of semiconductor assembly
equipment, in 1960. He ultimately held positions in inventory,
production and sales management before leaving the firm in 1968 to start
his own business, manufacturing specialty machine parts. Mr. Shreiber
sold his company in 1970 and stayed on until 1971. J&J Snack Foods Corp.
was formed in September 1971 by Mr. Shreiber after he purchased a local
bankrupt soft pretzel company. He initiated product improvements,
developed marketing and equipment programs, and established a national
distribution system. Other products were added, and in the late 1970s
and 1980s, small but key turnaround acquisitions followed. In 1986 J&J
went public. In November 1987 and again in 1991, J&J earned a ranking on
the Forbes list of the 200 best small companies in America. Mr. Shreiber
has served on the Board of Directors of the Jewish Community Center of
Atlantic County, NJ and also as Chairman of the fundraising committee.
He is Chairman of the State of Israel Notes for Atlantic county. He is
also a Founder of the American Associates, Ben Gurion University of the
Negev in Israel and is a member of the Board of the Federation of Jewish
Charities. He is a Director of the North American Wildlife Park
Foundation in Battle Ground, Indiana. He is a member of World Wildlife
Fund, National Wildlife Federation American Anti-Vivisection Society,
International Fund for Animal Welfare, Animal Welfare Institute,
Greenpeace, PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals) and
several other preservation and animal welfare organizations. Profile
including the history, development, and markets, your experience with
the firm and what you believe the potential of the
