Israeli woman who founded Gottex bathing suits with her husband. She is the main designer & critical to the business end as well.
Pres./Co-CEO of "Bed, Bath and Beyond", the chain of home supplies.
Owner of the Hartz Mountain empire of pet food and supplies.
Founder of the "Limited" chains of clothing stores.
Strauss is a German-Jewish founder of the Levi Strauss Company. The company, which began in San Francisco in the 1850s, made clothes gold miners wanted. His sisters descendants, the "Haas" family, still control the company.
Georgia-based businessman and politican who seems to be a mensch. His family was poor. He started the "Great American Cookie Company" with $8,000 and turned it into a 100M. dollar company. Stepped down as CEO, in 96, to challenge Newt Gingrich for his House seat (lost). In 98, he almost won when he ran for the Senate. He is a world class bicyclist & Georgias philantropist of the year in 1996.
Born Meyer Thompson in England. Emigrant to Canada and then the US. Creator of one of the first sucessful automated bagel making machines. The Thompson Bagel Machine Manufacturing Company is now being run by the third generation.
One of the first Jewish CEOs of a Fortune 500 company when he was selected Chairman and CEO of Supervalu, the worlds largest wholesale grocer company, in 1969. He remained in that position until his retirement in 1976. He was an active participant on many business, academic, and social organization boards including Boy Scouts of America, Hebrew Union College (Cincy), and others. Born and raised in Lexington, MA.
The "Nathan" of "Nathans Frankfurters". Brought good quality beef franks to the American palate. A Coney Island institution.
Took over Macys in the 19th C. and made it a major chain. So, in the movie Miracle on 34th Street--Mr. Macy should have been Mr. Straus.
founder of the first department stores in US--Vincennes, Ind. in 1842. Sons founded the chain, which included Saks 5th Ave.
Introduced the American-style supermarket to Britain after WWII, in the process turning his small family grocery firm into the giant Sainsburys chain & turning himself into one of the richest men in Britain (and a member of the House of Lords). When he was made a baron in 1962, he chose the name, "Lord Sainsbury of Drury Lane," to commemorate his familys humble origins. Jewish mother. (Editors note: Wouldnt it be great if Americans could get titles the same way, i.e.,"Lord Ron Popeil of Maxwell Street".)
Known as "Mr. Cost-Plus". Took the West Coast based retail chain from one store to more than 20. Not that unusually, his parents were socialists and he brought their community-aware ethos to the chain.
Co-founders of Home Depot. Its ironic that Jews have always been big in the hardware biz. The stereotype, partially true, is that Jewish men are not big on doing home improvts themselves. Jewish mothers would rather have their manually deft kids become surgeons or violinists-not carpenters. (Well, I can think of one Jewish mother who was okay w/the kid becoming a carpenter).
Ben & Jerrys Ice Cream. Pay scale at company, in contrast to most companies, allows fairly little disparity between top and bottom. Ben & Jerry were the models for the ice cream moguls who traveled w/Billy Crystal in the movie "City Slickers".
Co-founder of Home Depot. Its ironic that Jews have always been big in the hardware biz. The stereotype, partially true, is that Jewish men are not big on doing home improvts themselves. Jewish mothers would rather have their manually deft kids become surgeons or violinists-not carpenters. (Well, I can think of one Jewish mother who was okay w/the kid becoming a carpenter).
Founders of the famous ice cream chain. Irvings only son, John Robbins, is a devout vegetarian who is opposed to dairy products. He is a "hero" on several veggie sites. Gee, it seems a bit unfair to us--I mean these guys werent exactly arms merchants and their ice cream was (is) kosher when most brands didnt know from kosher.
Famous clothing designer who was born in the Bronx in 1942. His parents were immigrants from Europe. Klein was always known as the best dressed boy on the block. He began his company in 1968 with $10,000 and the help of his childhood friend, Barry Schwartz. The rest is fashion history.
Founder of Toys R-Us, which pioneered the warehouse toy store concept. Cleverly sold baby supplies practically at cost. One of the few American retailers to make a dent in Japan.
Founder and long-term President of Revlon Corporation. Chas. Revson Foundation is a major donor to Jewish and non-Jewish charities.
