Max Brenner facts for kids
Max Brenner logo
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Max Brenner shop
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| Industry | Food & Beverage |
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| Founded | Ra'anana, Israel (1996) |
| Founder | Max Fichtman Oded Brenner |
| Headquarters |
Ra'anana
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Israel
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Number of locations
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35 in 2023 |
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Area served
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Australia, Israel, Japan, Russia, United States |
| Products | Chocolate |
| Owner | Yaniv Shtanger Dudu Vaknin |
Max Brenner is an Israeli company that sells delicious chocolate treats. It's known for its restaurants and shops around the world. You can find Max Brenner in many countries, like Australia, Israel, Japan, Russia, and the United States.
The company specializes in yummy chocolate desserts. They offer things like fondue, crepes, milkshakes, waffles, and hot chocolate. Many of these are served in special, unique dishes. Max Brenner is currently owned by Yaniv Shtanger and Dudu Vaknin. Their chocolates are also certified kosher, which means they follow certain food rules.
Contents
History of Max Brenner
How it Started: 1996–2001
The company began in 1996 in Ra'anana, Israel. It was founded by two friends, Max Fichtman and Oded Brenner. They combined their names to create "Max Brenner."
Oded Brenner learned how to make chocolate in Paris. He spent six years studying with a famous chocolatier. When he returned to Israel, he opened his first small shop. It was called "Handmade Chocolate by Max Brenner."
By 1999, Max and Oded had opened ten chocolate shops. In 2000, they opened their first "Max Brenner Chocolate Bar" in Australia. This new type of store combined a chocolate bar with a chocolate shop. It allowed people to enjoy chocolate in many ways.
Growing Bigger: 2001–2017
In 2001, a larger company called Strauss Group bought Max Brenner. This helped Max Brenner grow even more. From 2002 to 2005, new locations opened in Israel, Singapore, and the Philippines. They also continued to open more shops in Australia.
In 2006, the first Max Brenner chocolate bar opened in the United States. It was in New York City. More stores opened in places like Las Vegas, Boston, and Philadelphia. These new stores offered both sweet and savory food.
Around 2013, the company started to change its style. They moved away from full-service restaurants. Instead, they opened "Chocolate Bars" where you could get food faster. The first of these opened in Maryland, USA. Others opened in Tokyo, Japan, and Moscow, Russia. By this time, Max Brenner had 37 restaurants across Australia.
Becoming Independent Again: Since 2017
In 2017, the Strauss Group sold the Max Brenner brand. It was bought by two Israeli business people, Yaniv Shtanger and Dudu Vaknin.
In 2018, the Max Brenner business in Australia faced some challenges. Many of its stores had to close. However, an Australian cinema owner named Roy Mustaca bought the remaining 17 stores. This helped keep Max Brenner alive in Australia.
Max Brenner Australia Today
Max Brenner first came to Australia in 2000. Its first Chocolate Bar opened in Sydney. The Australian stores offer many chocolate treats. These include hot chocolates, chocolate fondue, and waffles. They also have special cups like the 'hug mug'.
In 2018, an Australian family business bought the Max Brenner stores in Australia. This new leadership planned to expand the company. In 2021, they opened their first international Chocolate Bar in New Zealand.
The Australian Max Brenner business is now separate from the businesses in Israel and the US. Its main office is in Sydney, Australia. In 2021, three new Chocolate Bars opened in Australia. There are currently 25 Max Brenner Chocolate Bars in Australia.
Protests and Max Brenner
Sometimes, groups of people have protested outside Max Brenner stores. These protests happened because the original owner, the Strauss Group, had supported soldiers in Israel.
In 2011, a group called Students for Palestine organized protests in Australia. They protested outside Max Brenner shops. Some people were arrested during a protest in Melbourne.
Australian politicians spoke about these protests. Some said that boycotting a business because of its owners' background was not right. Other groups said that the protests were peaceful. They also said that Max Brenner was chosen because of its connection to the Strauss Group.
Max Brenner Australia said that their stores are owned by an Australian couple. They stated that they have no direct connection to the Strauss Group. They also said that their business employs many Australians.
In 2013, a newspaper reported that a protest organizer said there wasn't a direct money link between the Australian store and Israel. However, the protest group pointed out that the Strauss Group's reports still mentioned the Australian Max Brenner stores.
Awards and Recognition
In April 2014, Max Brenner won an award for its website. It won a 2014 Webby Awards in the food and drink category. Both the public and a panel of experts chose it as the best website.
Images for kids
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Max Brenner store in Parramatta, New South Wales
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Max Brenner chocolate bar in Herzliya, Israel
