Murray Lender facts for kids
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Murray Isaac Lender (born October 29, 1930 – died March 21, 2012) was an American businessman. He was an entrepreneur who helped grow his father's small bagel bakery, Lender's Bagels, into a famous brand across the United States. Murray Lender was the chief executive officer (CEO) of Lender's. His brother, Marvin, was the company's president.
Under Murray Lender's leadership, Lender's Bagels started selling frozen bagels in supermarkets in 1960. This was a big deal because it introduced many Americans to bagels for the very first time! The Washington Post newspaper even called Murray Lender "the most important man in the modern history of bagels." Many people also knew Murray Lender from his appearances in television commercials for Lender's Bagels.
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The Lender Family's Beginnings
Murray Lender's father, Harry Lender, came to the United States in 1927. He immigrated from Lublin, Poland. In the same year, Harry opened a small bagel bakery in New Haven, Connecticut. This bakery mainly served the Eastern European Jewish community in the city.
Harry's wife, Rose Braiter Lender, and their two oldest children, Hyman and Sam, joined Harry in the United States in 1929.
Murray Lender's Early Life and Education
Murray Lender was born in New Haven, Connecticut, on October 29, 1930. He went to the Junior College of Commerce. Today, this school is known as Quinnipiac University.
Later in his life, Murray Lender became the chairman of Quinnipiac University's Board of Trustees. He heard the university's president, John L. Lahey, talk about the history of the Great Hunger in Ireland. This inspired Murray Lender to donate money to create the Ireland’s Great Hunger Museum at Quinnipiac. President Lahey said that Murray Lender, "a son of a Jewish immigrant from Poland," understood the struggles of immigrants. He saw how important this story was for all immigrant groups.
Growing the Bagel Business
All four Lender brothers – Hyman, Sam, Harry, and Marvin – joined their family's bagel business. It was called H. Lender's and Sons. Their father, Harry Lender, passed away in 1958.
In 1960, the brothers began freezing bagels to sell them. This made it possible to sell bagels far beyond their local bakery. Murray Lender also came up with the smart idea of pre-slicing bagels. This made them even easier for people to enjoy.
Murray Lender and his family sold Lender's Bagels to Kraft Foods in 1984. Later, in 2003, the Pinnacle Foods Group bought the brand.
Murray Lender's Later Years
Murray Lender passed away on March 21, 2012, in a hospital in Miami, Florida. He was 81 years old. He had been injured in a fall at his home in Aventura, Florida, ten weeks earlier. He is remembered by his children Carl Lender, Haris Lender, and Jay Lender, and his six grandchildren.
