In September 2008, the company changed it’s name from the R.A.B. Food Group to the Manischewitz Company, under which it operates today.

It all started with Rabbi Dov Behr

The B. Manischewitz Company, LLC traces its beginnings back to the spring of 1888, when Rabbi Dov Behr Manischewitz opened a small Matzo bakery in Cincinnati, Ohio.

A humble beginning

It was largely from his spiritual concerns that he set out to make matzo or unleavened bread for Passover, first for his family and a few friends, but soon for many of the devout Jews of the city. His bakery soon evolved into a successful business, innovative and prosperous––though never inattentive to the spiritual needs of its customers.

From small bakery to booming business

By the end of the century, demand for his matzo had become so great that Rabbi Manischewitz turned to the use of gas-fired ovens, replacing the older coal stoves being used by other Jewish bakers. The newer ovens allowed for much more careful control of the baking speed, insuring a consistent and standard quality to the matzos.
He also introduced portable traveling-tunnel ovens, and was the first to package his matzos for shipment to places beyond the immediate neighborhood of his bakery. He even began shipping his matzos overseas, to such diverse places as England, Japan, France, Hungary, Egypt and New Zealand. His bright, clean bakery would become a model for future kosher bakeries, both in America and abroad.

Matzo on the move

In 1932, the company built a second factory. Located in Jersey City, New Jersey, the plant quickly became the model for all new machine-made matzo bakeries worldwide. Closer to a much larger Jewish population than that of Cincinnati, the new factory also made distribution of the company’s product more efficient and quickly enlarged its customer base. The Manischewitz label was soon dominant in ethnic grocery stores and delicatessens in the larger East Coast cities. Thanks to the technology and efficiency of the New Jersey factory, Manischewitz was able to close down the Cincinnati facility altogether.

Same quality, more quantity

In 1940, Manischewitz produced its first Tam Tam cracker. It signaled the initial departure from its line of matzo products. About the same time, in a licensing arrangement, Manischewitz wines began to be sold throughout the country.
In 1954, the company purchased a processing plant located in Vineland, New Jersey. The Vineland facility, which has now ceased operations, manufactured all of the company’s canned and jarred products, including old familiar favorites like gefilte fish, chicken soup and borscht. The plant was primarily a hand-pack processing operation stressing careful attention to quality and flexibility. Workers there packed about 2,000,000 lbs. of fish and 1,000,000 lbs. of beets each year.

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Acclaimed pastry chef and restaurateur,  she remains the driving force behind the success and outstanding reputation of the Sarabeth brand. Sarabeth’s personal search for perfection extends to everything she creates.  www.sarabeth.com

In 1981, Sarabeth began making Orange-Apricot Marmalade from her home kitchen from a 200 year old family recipe and selling it to local food shops. From that humble beginning, Sarabeth with her husband and business partner, Bill Levine, now own and operate a jam factory, a wholesale-retail bakery café and nine restaurants. It is a true American success story.

Charlie Apt joined Sarabeth’s in June 2011 as President and Chief Operating Officer of SBK Preserves, Inc. dba Sarabeth’s Kitchen, the corporation that manufactures the Sarabeth’s line of jams and other gourmet food products. Charlie is working closely with the owners of Sarabeth’s to help manage brand equity, build consumer awareness and loyalty, and structure the business for aggressive growth and profitability.

William Levine, Chief Executive Officer and Sarabeth Levine, Chairman of the Board, have known Charlie for over 20 years, since teaming up to form a joint venture producing an ice cream line called “Ciao Bella Sarabeth’s”, an extraordinary combination of Sarabeth’s Spreadable Fruits, baked treats and Ciao Bella gelato. At the time, Charlie was owner of Ciao Bella Gelato Company and a fellow member of the NASFT. After receiving acclaim on such shows as Donald Trump’s The Apprentice and Oprah Winfrey’s Favorite Things, as well as winning over 18 NASFT awards, Ciao Bella was sold to a private equity group in 2008 and Charlie remained onboard through 2011. In Charlie’s opinion,

Sarabeth’s Kitchen makes phenomenal products with a brand legacy that is upheld each and every day by its founders, Sarabeth and Bill Levine. I am proud to be a part of this team and look forward to many years aboard as the brand builds and consumers look to Sarabeth’s for products that are exceptional and unique.

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