# Gerald B. Shreiber

> Gerald B. Shreiber (1941-2026), known as Gerry, founded J&J Snack Foods after buying a bankrupt soft pretzel company for $72,100 in 1971. The former machine-shop trainee built a public snack-food business associated with SUPERPRETZEL, ICEE and LUIGI’S. A longtime South Jersey resident and animal advocate, he supported employee education and student scholarships, including a $30 million gift to Rowan University’s veterinary school. He handed the CEO role to Dan Fachner in 2021 and became chairman emeritus in 2023.

- **Role:** Entrepreneur, former food-industry executive and philanthropist
- **Organizations:** J&J Snack Foods Corp., Kulicke & Soffa, Shreiber Animal Foundation Enterprise (SAFE), Pennsylvania SPCA, Rowan University
- **From:** Bridgeton, United States
- **Education:** High school diploma, Atlantic City High School, Drexel University, Honorary Doctor of Veterinary Medicine, Rowan University
- **Known for:** Built J&J Snack Foods from a bankrupt pretzel business with eight employees and approximately $400,000 in annual sales into a public snack-food business., Twice received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, according to Rowan’s biography., First recipient of Rowan’s William G. Rohrer Business Leader of the Year Award in 2012.

## Career timeline

- **1960** — Began as a machine-shop trainee at Kulicke & Soffa; later worked in inventory, production and sales management.
- **1968** — Left Kulicke & Soffa to start a specialty machine-parts business.
- **1970** — Sold his machine-parts business.
- **1971-09-27** — Purchased J&J Pretzel Co. assets at a bankruptcy auction for $72,100 and established J&J Snack Foods.
- **1972** — J&J opened a Los Angeles branch.
- **1973** — SUPERPRETZEL trademark registered.
- **1987** — J&J acquired ICEE-USA.
- **2012** — Received the inaugural William G. Rohrer Business Leader of the Year Award.
- **2020-05** — Dan Fachner succeeded him as president; Shreiber remained CEO and chairman.
- **2021-05-11** — Fachner became CEO; Shreiber remained chairman.
- **2023-04** — Rowan announced his $30 million gift for veterinary student scholarships.
- **2023-05** — Received an honorary Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Rowan.
- **2023-11-16** — Became chairman emeritus as Dan Fachner became chairman.
- **2025-10** — Attended the ribbon-cutting at the Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine.
- **2026-05-09** — Died at age 84.

## Achievements

- Built J&J Snack Foods from a bankrupt pretzel business with eight employees and approximately $400,000 in annual sales into a public snack-food business.
- Twice received the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, according to Rowan’s biography.
- First recipient of Rowan’s William G. Rohrer Business Leader of the Year Award in 2012.
- Contributed $30 million to support scholarships at Rowan’s first-in-New-Jersey veterinary school, which bears his name.
- Established the Nathan Shreiber Scholarship Plan for J&J employees.
- Received an honorary Doctor of Veterinary Medicine from Rowan University in 2023.

## Latest updates

- **2026-10** — Rowan’s retrospective reported that he met students at the October 2025 school ribbon-cutting and attended a portrait unveiling early in 2026; its inaugural class finished its first year shortly before his death.
- **2026-05** — Died May 9, 2026, aged 84; Rowan President Ali Houshmand published a remembrance May 10.
- **2023-11** — Transitioned from chairman to chairman emeritus, with Dan Fachner elected chairman.

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Profile page: https://yespress.io/gerald-b-shreiber
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-10-23