Strauss Group facts for kids
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| Public | |
| Traded as | TASE: STRS |
| Industry | |
| Founded | 1939 |
| Founders |
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| Headquarters | Petah Tikva, Israel |
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Areas served
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Key people
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| Products | |
| Revenue |  ₪ 5.69 billion (2019) |
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Operating income
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₪ 878 million (2019) |
| ₪ 594 million (2019) |
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Number of employees
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15,000 |
| Subsidiaries |
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Strauss Group Ltd. is a big Israeli company that makes and sells many popular food items. You can find their products in stores all over the world. It's one of the largest food makers in Israel. Strauss Group is known for its dairy products, coffee, water, snacks, and tasty dips. Their company, Strauss Coffee, is a major coffee business in places like Eastern Europe and Brazil.
Strauss Group is a public company, which means its shares can be bought and sold on the Tel Aviv Stock Exchange. The Strauss family still owns most of the company. About 15,000 people work for Strauss Group around the world, and their products are sold in more than 20 countries.
Contents
The Story of Strauss Group
The Strauss Group actually started from two different companies: Elite and Strauss. Both began with a dream to create delicious food.
Elite: From Candy to Coffee
The story of Elite began in 1918 with Eliyahu Fromenchenko. He started making candies in his home kitchen in Russia. Later, he moved to Latvia and joined a candy company there. In 1933, he moved to what was then called Mandatory Palestine.
Fromenchenko bought land in Ramat Gan and opened his own company, Elite. Production started in the spring of 1934, and their first products were ready for the Passover holiday. One of their most famous early products was "Shokolad Para," a chocolate bar with a cow on the wrapper. As Elite grew, they opened more factories in places like Safed and Nof HaGalil.
In 1958, Elite became the first company in Israel to start a coffee business. They also bought another big food company called Lieber in 1970. In 1982, Elite launched a very popular chocolate bar called "Pesek Zman".
Elite also started making salty snacks, like "Tapuchips," which became a best-seller. They even began selling coffee outside of Israel, especially in Europe and South America. Elite became a very large company, and sometimes, rules were put in place to make sure there was fair competition for smaller businesses in the chocolate and coffee markets.
Strauss: From Dairy Farm to Desserts
The Strauss story began in 1936 when Richard and Hilde Strauss moved from Germany to Nahariya in Mandatory Palestine. They started a small dairy farm with just two cows. Hilde was very good at making cheese from any extra milk they had, and soon, making cheese became their main focus. They later added delicious dessert products. By the 1950s, Strauss was making ice cream and had about 50 employees.
In 1969, a big food company called Groupe Danone bought a part of Strauss. This helped Strauss grow even more, and they started making puddings and other individual dairy desserts. Two of their most popular desserts were "Dani" and, later, "Milky." In 1975, Michael Strauss, Richard and Hilde's son, became the head of the company.
In 1995, Strauss started making prepared salads. Their "Achla" hummus became very popular in Israel. In 1997, Strauss bought a share of the Yotvata dairy. In the same year, Strauss also bought Elite, which was a huge step! The two companies officially joined together in 2004.
In 2001, Ofra Strauss, Michael's daughter, became the CEO of the company. She continued to lead the company's growth.
Joining Forces: Strauss–Elite and Strauss Group
In 2004, Strauss and Elite officially merged to become Strauss–Elite. This made them an even bigger and stronger food company.
In 2005, Strauss–Elite bought a company called Sabra in New York, which makes food products. They also joined their coffee business with a company in Brazil, becoming the second-largest coffee maker there.
In 2007, the company changed its name back to just Strauss, but this time as "Strauss Group." Strauss Ice Cream became a separate company, partly owned by Unilever and partly by the Strauss family.
Over the years, Strauss Group has continued to grow and make new partnerships. In 2022, they extended their partnership with Brazil’s São Miguel company. In 2023, their water business, Strauss Water, teamed up with Culligan International to expand in the UK.
Key Moments in Strauss History
- 1936: Richard and Hilde Strauss arrive in Mandatory Palestine and start their dairy farm.
- 1939: They buy a dairy in Nahariya, focusing on cheese.
- 1949: Strauss ice cream is introduced to the market.
- 1959: The company receives a loan to help with financial difficulties.
- 1969: Strauss partners with Danone, a big French food company.
- 1972: A new factory opens in Nahariya, and "Dani" desserts begin production.
- 1979: "Milky" desserts are launched and become very popular.
- 1991: The "Achla" brand of salads is launched.
- 1995: Unilever buys a part of the Strauss ice cream company.
- 1997: Strauss buys Elite, bringing the two big food companies together.
- 2001: Ofra Strauss becomes the CEO of the company.
- 2004: Strauss and Elite officially become one company.
- 2005: Strauss buys Sabra Salads Company and enters the North American market.
- 2008: Strauss partners with PepsiCo to develop and sell dips and spreads in America.
- 2010: A large salads factory opens in Virginia, USA.
- 2017: Strauss re-purchases shares in Strauss Café.
- 2020: Michael Strauss, son of the founders, passes away.
See also
- Economy of Israel
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