fortunoff was a new york-based retailer of home , jewelry and furniture stores founded in 1922 by max and clara fortunoff .

the original fortunoff store was on livonia avenue in brownsville , brooklyn , new york .

the chain 's flagship store was in westbury , long island ; the store opened in 1964 and anchored the mall at the source , which was built around the fortunoff store , from 1997 until fortunoff 's closing in 2009 .

fortunoff had four full-line stores in the chain .

in addition to the westbury flagship , these stores were located in white plains , new york ; woodbridge , new jersey ; and wayne , new jersey .

in addition , fortunoff operated 16 specialty stores : jewelry and fine gifts were offered at the chain 's shops on 57th street in manhattan , which closed in february 2009 , and were also offered at fortunoff 's paramus park mall location .

indoor and outdoor furniture were the focus of another 14 stores throughout new york , new jersey , connecticut and pennsylvania ; these stores were known as " fortunoff backyard stores " .

fortunoff

© 2018 fortunoff fine jewelry . all rights reserved . fortunoff fine jewelry is a registered trademark licensed from fortunoff brands , llc . fortunoff fine jewelry is not affiliated with any other fortunoff retail entity .
fortunoff will introduce fortunoff jewelry stores and fortunoff home departments both within the bay department stores as well as freestanding retail operations .
copyright © 2018 fortunoff brands . fortunoff retail licensees are not affiliated with each other .
© 2018 fortunoff backyard store . fortunoff backyard store is a registered trademark and is being used under a license from fortunoff brands llc .
max and clara fortunoff opened the original fortunoff in 1922 on brooklyn ' s livonia avenue .
in addition to his wife , mr . fortunoff is survived by four daughters , esther fortunoff - greene , of old westbury ; ruth fortunoff - cooper , of manhattan ; andrea fortunoff of long island ; and rhonda fortunoff , of eugene , ore . , ; two sons , david fortunoff , of manhattan , and louis fortunoff , of brookville , n . y . ; and two grandchildren .
dowling college - history . . . a college committee , led by alan fortunoff , dowling trustee and son of fortunoff founder max fortunoff , guided the restoration of the ornate woodwork . . . the mansion was renamed to honor max and clara fortunoff , and is now known as fortunoff hall . . .
and it does so under the legendary fortunoff name , which the founding fortunoff and mayrock families bought back in auction last year .
fortunoff brands purchased all of the intellectual property of fortunoff , including the brand name and related trademarks , customer lists , domain names , and all copyrighted material . it is owned by the fortunoff and mayrock families , who owned and operated fortunoff for four generations .
another retail source , who asked to remain anonymous because he has close ties to fortunoff , said
things changed when alan died ,
referring to alan fortunoff , the son of founder max fortunoff , who ran the company for decades . alan fortunoff died in 2000 .
white plains , new york - history - modern history . . . note as of july 20 , 2009 , the fortunoff and mayrock families re - acquired the fortunoff brand and intellectual property all fortunoff stores are currently closed . . .
we believe fortunoff has the opportunity to be a national chain ,
baker said . baker said fortunoff ' s sales could double in years to come .
jewelry and home furnishings retailer fortunoff filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy earlier this month .
merkur said the grill maker also shared fortunoff ' s focus on high - level customer service and had a relationship with fortunoff that went back about two decades .
fortunoff was a new york - based retailer of home , jewelry and furniture stores founded in 1922 by max and clara fortunoff . the original fortunoff store was on livonia avenue in brooklyn , new york . the chain ' s flagship store was in westbury , long island ; the store opened in 1964 and anchored the mall at the source , which was built around the fortunoff store , from 1997 until fortunoff ' s closing in 2009 .
fortunoff , l & t owner acquires hudson ' s bay co . | home textiles today
seven companies await final court approval for gob sales liquidating fortunoff ' s stores and inventory .
helene fortunoff , who raised six children , was considered a pioneer in jewelry in the 1960s and on the cutting edge for women in general , said a source close to the fortunoff family .
fortunoff now does business as an online jewelry retailer , as well as operating its backyard stores .
fortunoff said that all of its stores and its corporate headquarters will remain open during the bankruptcy process .
manuscripts , clippings and other items related to individuals who have given testimony to the fortunoff video archive .
james b . jacobs - background . . . with the support and encouragement of nyu alumnus , alan fortunoff , jacobs launched the monthly fortunoff criminal justice colloquium in 1983 . . . fifteen years later , when fortunoff died , the distinguished criminal defense lawyer , jack hoffinger , became the colloquium’s benefactor . . .
four leaf designs is a new partnership between esther fortunoff and david fortunoff , and lester friedlander and shaun apgar , the principals of clover ii , a jewelry wholesaler and the owners of robert lee morris inc .
fortunoff - 2010 relaunch . . . llc allowing furniture concepts to sell fortunoff - branded outdoor furniture . . . as part of this , the new owners of fortunoff are reopening the chain ' s former backyard store unit , with six locations to open in february 2010 . . . fortunoff said that most of the stores will be located at or near former locations , including in the mall at the source . . .
fortunoff brands llc , a holding company that purchased in july 2009 all of fortunoff’s intellectual property , reached a licensing agreement with four leaf designs , for fine jewelry products in the u . s . and online .
in addition to the merchandise liquidation of fortunoff , all store fixtures throughout the chain will also be sold .
fortunoff said its statement that lord & taylor has made available a $ 10 million letter of credit to help fortunoff continue to purchase inventory . additionally , fortunoff said , some of its lenders have agreed to provide the company with debtor - in - possession financing that will be used to run the business during the bankruptcy process .
the winning liquidators guaranteed fortunoff would receive 88 . 8 percent of the cost value of the merchandise they sell , while lawyers for fortunoff said in court that the other bid had only guaranteed 77 percent of the value .
fortunoff has been operating under chapter 11 of the bankruptcy code since feb . 5 . fortunoff is owned by nrdc equity partners , a private equity firm that bought the retailer out of an earlier bankruptcy in march 2008 .
mr . fortunoff , who was president and chief executive of the family - run retailer , fortunoff fine jewelry and silverware , helped begin its transformation in 1964 . that was when he encouraged his parents , the store ' s founders , max and clara fortunoff , to follow their customers to the suburb of westbury , n . y .
he met his wife of 47 years , helene , at n . y . u . after marrying , the couple worked together closely at fortunoff , expanding the product line . he focused on his favorite , antique silver , while she took control of jewelry marketing . mrs . fortunoff remains in charge of fortunoff ' s jewelry marketing .
in an interview , baker said nrdc wants to make fortunoff into
a national chain ,
possibly with stores across the country . he did not say how many . baker said nrdc will also renovate existing fortunoff stores .
the fortunoff sale comes on the heels of an all - day auction , held at the company ' s attorneys ' offices , in which a group of six liquidators had a winning bid for fortunoff ' s $ 212 million merchandise .
retail industry sources said nrdc will pay $ 100 million for fortunoff , a company with sales of about $ 450 million .
he said fortunoff jewelry and home furnishings will one day be sold in all 47 lord & taylor stores . baker said that while he thinks fortunoff is already an upscale retailer store , he wants to make it
a bit more
upscale .
retail industry sources said last week that fortunoff , struggling for the past few years , was in talks to be acquired .
fortunoff ' s combination of home furnishings and jewelry was unique , as was its large product assortment , retail experts pointed out . in addition , they said , fortunoff made its mark as one of the first retailers to define
affordable luxury .
fortunoff was bought from bankruptcy protection nearly one year ago , in march of 2008 , by nrdc equity partners , the same company that owns lord & taylor . the jewelry purveyors fifth avenue store closed in january , following a deal in which fortunoff wares would be sold within the department store . the shop within a shop plan had since been abandoned by nrdc , following fortunoffs business difficulties .
and this may not be the last place the fortunoff name will resurface . david fortunoff , grandson of company founders max and clara , was part of the family group that bought back the name and they are exploring other options , he said at the opening .
in a statement monday morning , the fortunoff and mayrock families said ,
given the challenges that fortunoff faced in the current economic environment , we are happy that this opportunity for an affiliation with nrdc and lord & taylor emerged . we look forward to seeing fortunoff move quickly through the chapter 11 process and are very hopeful it will thrive under this new ownership . and of course we are delighted that the stores will remain open to serve the public and fortunoff ' s employees will continue in their jobs . since 1922 , when max and clara fortunoff founded the company , it has been known for its quality , selection , service and value . these core values continue to guide it today and we ' re happy that nrdc intends to marry the storied fortunoff brand with lord & taylor .
fortunoff filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in early february , citing a
severe liquidity crisis
magnified by the grim economic conditions .
fortunoff had four full - line stores in the chain . in addition to the westbury flagship , these stores were located in white plains , new york , woodbridge , new jersey , and wayne , new jersey . in addition , fortunoff operated 16 specialty stores : jewelry and fine gifts were offered at the chain ' s shops on 57th street in manhattan , which closed in february 2009 , and were also offered at fortunoff ' s paramus park mall location . a clearance center was also operated in east garden city , new york . indoor and outdoor furniture were the focus of another 14 stores throughout new york , new jersey , connecticut and pennsylvania ; these stores were known as
fortunoff backyard stores
. this portion of the fortunoff chain was revived in february 2010 , although not all former fortunoff backyard stores have reopened .
i fully expect something similar will happen with the fortunoff name after its assets are auctioned , an event scheduled to take place this week . i won ' t be at all surprised to see infomercials or tv shopping broadcasts by holiday 2010 for
fortunoff fine jewelry at affordable prices .
if customers had any questions about grills or accessories , they were in luck . fortunoff employees were trained extensively on the grills , merkur said .
fortunoff holdings , llc filled for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in february 2009 . according to court filings , it owed the industry over $ 6 million .
a focal point for fortunoff’s massive weber display turned out to be its wall of accessories , which generated significant add - on sales for the retailer .
weber also had its own staff on the floor in all six fortunoff stores , an arrangement it has with other retailers in non - compete situations .
i would hear consumers that i would interview about fortunoff ' s state that they were seeing less and less of what made them special and that they could find similar or even the same product elsewhere for less ,
cohen said .
fortunoff ' s 80 year heritage had been lost .
mr . fortunoff ' s parents founded the store , described as the first discount retailer in the new york metropolitan area , in 1922 , the year they married . mr . fortunoff ' s childhood home was the back part of the store . he grew up sweeping floors , trimming windows and creating displays .
after 87 years of business , jewelry and housewares chain fortunoff holdings sparkle has expired . the retailer will begin a liquidation sale of all assets on thursday .
no other stores ? long island has too many stores , causing too much traffic . half of ' em should be closed and replaced with one fortunoff .
i won ' t be at all surprised to see infomercials or tv shopping broadcastsby holiday 2010 for ' fortunoff fine jewelry at affordable prices . '
marshal cohen , an analyst for npd group in port washington , said in recent years fortunoff had focused less on exclusive items and more on
efficiency .
wayne towne center . . . anchor , jcpenney , following the closing of its other main anchor fortunoff . . . was recently completely closed off as secondary anchor old navy closed and primary anchors fortunoff and jcpenney closed their mall entrances . . . with the closure of fortunoff and the 215 , 000 - square - foot ( 20 , 000 m2 ) vacancy it has created , construction may not be necessary on a new building to house the dick ' s store . . .
when fortunoff backyard stores relaunched under new ownership in february , it had big plans for the grill department at its flagship store in westbury , n . y .
mention of the fortunoff name evokes many associations , often including the words
quality and price .
but for long island shoppers , the name also has a face .
under bankruptcy provisions , other bidders could make competing offers for fortunoff , the announcement said . retail experts , however , said , the chance of other bidders emerging is small .
new york — an official affiliated with great american group said that a consortium of liquidators led by great american was the winning bidder to run the liquidation of bankrupt retailer fortunoff .
the largely untrained staff undermines what the new fortunoff could be — i . e . , more like tiffany , less like macy’s — in the mind of someone new to it .
according to new york attorney general andrew cuomo , fortunoff customers who still have gift cards or credit slips from the store may still use them at liquidation sales up until march 8 . after filing for bankruptcy protection , fortunoff stopped accepting the waivers , of which there is an estimated $ 8 . 5 million in circulation , but will now have to honor them .
the fortunoff brand is attempting a come back , announcing the upcoming launch of an e - commerce website a nd plans to open a number of stores in the tri - state area .
when archaeologists are digging new york out of permafrost a century from now , they may determine that in late 2007 , diamond cuff bracelets enslaved womankind . fortunoff’s window displays will support this .
max and clara fortunoff opened their first department store in brooklyn in 1922 . there are now several on the east coast , all operating for the last 25 years under the iconic slogan , “the source . ” the new store on 57th street is the first fortunoff to open since investment groups gained ownership in 2005 . fortunoff family members have retained hands - on roles in managing the business , but you get the impression they are losing grip on their name as it mutates into a corporate logo . after the holidays , the old store on fifth avenue will close .
the sale—which will include all 20 store locations in new york , new jersey , connecticut , and pennsylvania—was ordered by the bankruptcy court as a result of fortunoff’s chapter 11 filing earlier this month .
mr . fortunoff became president of fortunoff after his sister died in 1983 . an astute retailer , he built his business by undercutting competitors . from 1985 to 1995 , he led an effort to build a retail mall adjacent to the 213 , 000 - square - foot westbury store as a way of increasing business . he put his company on the internet more than five years ago . and he encouraged his children to work in the store on holidays and weekends , in an effort to ensure that fortunoff would remain in the family . five of his six children are involved in the business .
retail industry sources said last week that fortunoff , struggling for the past few years , was in talks to be acquired from two investment firms - - trimaran capital partners and kier group of manhattan .
ka - chingle , all the way fortunoff is an unparalleled place to buy trinkets for all the princess brides , gotti boys , southern televangelists , african warlords and wayne newtons on your shopping list .
fortunoff brands llc has agreed to license rights to fortunoff - brand fine jewelry in the united states and on the internet to four leaf designs , a new partnership between esther fortunoff and david fortunoff , and lester friedlander and shaun apgar , the principals of jewelry wholesaler clover ii . four leaf designs will launch an e - commerce site and open stores in new york , new jersey , and connecticut . “this marks the reintroduction of a proud brand in a market that has long associated fortunoff with service , quality , and value , ” said esther fortunoff . “we are delighted to be able to once again to provide our loyal customers with the fashionable , world - class - quality jewelry they love at prices that make sense . ” according to a statement from fortunoff brands , four leaf designs plans to launch the e - commerce site as early as this fall and focus on stores next year . new stores are expected to be in the same markets though not necessarily the same locations as the previous stores . fortunoff holdings filed for bankruptcy in february 2009 , a year after being purchased by nrdc equity partners llc . eleven of the top creditors in the chapter 11 filing were jewelry companies . eventually , the filing was dismissed by the court , leaving many vendors outraged and in the red . earlier this year , the fortunoff backyard store was re - launched under a license to furniture concepts and seven stores opened . clover ii is a jewelry wholesaler with manufacturing facilities in italy , china , and canada . clover operates the robert lee morris brand , which has retail , wholesale , and television shopping businesses , and the elizabeth & james jewelry brand , under a license with dualstar entertainment group . the company was founded by lester friedlander , who has been in the jewelry business for 35 years .
yet , even with this tumble from its heyday , retail experts and , perhaps more important , the company ' s prospective buyer , are convinced the fortunoff brand is solid enough to stage a comeback .
during the late 1980s , fortunoff began to feel the pressure of competitors . and by the ' 90s , stores like target , the home depot ' s expo design center and bed bath & beyond were within minutes of all of fortunoff ' s stores . alan fortunoff , who was chief executive of the company until his death in 2000 , purchased the land around the westbury location and began the development process . according to the source close to the family , he realized that the survival of the chain ' s flagship store relied upon building a surrounding mall with restaurants and other retailers to draw more customers . the process took nearly a decade , during which alan fortunoff impressed even his critics with his style of meeting with area residents and those opposed to his plans at informal barbecues and living - room gatherings .
the source said that the current generation of the founding families , the fortunoffs and mayrocks , while competent and bright , lacked alan fortunoff ' s touch , which had been considered expert in the industry .
nrdc , which is based in purchase , n . y . , also owns fortunoff , a u . s . jewelry and home furnishings chain of stores , and clothing design firm creative design studios .
by acquiring hudson ' s bay co . along with previous acquisitions lord & taylor and fortunoff , we will have an unprecedented opportunity to recreate the retail landscape in north america ,
said baker .
pictured is a small sampling of the weber grill display at fortunoff backyard stores westbury , n . y . , location . during the peak selling season , the display encompassed 1 , 200 square feet .
mr . fortunoff contributed to several local and national organizations . he raised the ire of some local nonprofit groups when he underwrote a concert series run by a for - profit group in 1981 . mr . fortunoff said at the time that he was sponsoring the series because he had the ' ' freedom of choice of putting my money where i want to ' ' and because he felt the concerts had mass appeal .
and most importantly , fortunoff is poised to reclaim one other aspect of its previous incarnation : a big share of the moderate to better outdoor and casual furniture and accessories business in the new york metropolitan area .
merkur said ultimately fortunoff hopes to have 20 backyard stores in the new york metro area , which combined with chair king ' s 18 units in texas will give the store great buying power . isadore mayrock , a member of the founding family , is an investor in the new operation and also helped on the real estate side for the relaunch . the old fortunoff had 18 outdoor stores and departments within flagship stores .
in an announcement early monday morning , fortunoff said it has voluntarily filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and that it will be acquired by nrdc equity partners , the owner of the venerable lord & taylor department store .
hudson ' s bay company , the canadian retailer established in 1670 , has a new ownership group led by nrdc equity partners , which acquired lord & taylor in 2006 and bought fortunoff out of bankruptcy in march .
i have seen a lot of heavy shopping bags from their fifth avenue store hanging over a number of minky elbows over the years , so i presumed fortunoff to be fancy , in that old new yawk way .
the families who owned and operated fortunoff before its sale to private equity firms have purchased all the intellectual property of the now bankrupt company and are researching ways to relaunch the brand name , family members said tuesday .
fortunoff now has 20 locations , including its westbury store and three other
full - line
stores , two jewelry and gift stores and 14 indoor - outdoor furniture locations in new york , new jersey , connecticut and pennsylvania .
richard baker , chairman of lord & taylor and chief executive of nrdc , said in a statement that nrdc plans to invest $ 100 million into the fortunoff business
with investments being made in both existing and additional stores .
the case is in re : fortunoff holdings llc , u . s . bankruptcy court , southern district of new york , no . 09 - 10497 . ( reporting by emily chasan and phil wahba ; editing by gary hill )
richard baker , chairman of lord & taylor and chief executive officer of nrdc , said in a statement that nrdc plans to invest $ 100 million in the fortunoff business
with investments being made in both existing and additional stores .
new york , feb 24 ( reuters ) - a federal bankruptcy judge on tuesday approved the sale of luxury retailer fortunoff holdings llc to a group of seven liquidators , setting the stage for it to begin liquidating as early as wednesday .
“these are unprecedented economic times , and it’s unfortunate that after all these years , a new york icon like fortunoff is going to close and people are going to lose their jobs , ” said harvey m . yellen , chairman of great american group . “fortunoff has been a destination for fine jewelry , home goods , and gifts at incredible value , and the going out of business sale will offer a final opportunity to purchase this quality merchandise at even greater discounts . ”
the family bought back the real estate of the famous westbury flagship , but he said he doubts there will ever be a fortunoff retail operation back in that space .
brick and mortar is a tough sell in home furnishings .
the five other fortunoff backyard stores also had substantial , albeit smaller , weber displays . the idea for the big one began long before the retailer relaunched . marty merkur is the coo of furniture concepts llc , which licenses the fortunoff brand for outdoor furniture and seasonal products in the united states and online . he said he , ceo bernard sensale , and the rest of the furniture concepts management team met with all their vendors to discuss inventory and merchandising strategies before the relaunch .
the customers were sad to see us go and they are happy to see us back ,
said sensale , who had been chief marketing officer for fortunoff .
we are the place to come to for better outdoor furniture .
friends say mr . fortunoff was a quiet man who intuitively knew what others wanted . never pretentious , they say he even insisted on serving small hot dogs as appetizers at fancy parties , because he thought that was what guests liked to eat .
arnold orlick , fortunoff ' s chief executive , said in a statement that
it has been a difficult retail environment and capital constraints have limited expansion opportunities . this transaction will help realign our capital structure and provide an avenue for future growth .
though he always intended to work for his parents , mr . fortunoff graduated from new york university in 1953 with adegree in business , and from its law school in 1955 . he earned a master ' s degree in international law there in 1974 .
baker said ,
we will have an unprecedented opportunity to recreate the retail landscape in north america . enormous potential exists by upgrading the offerings at both the bay and zellers and by bringing lord & taylor , fortunoff & cds into the mix .
these are unprecedented economic times , and it ' s unfortunate that after all these years , a new york icon like fortunoff is going to close and people are going to lose their jobs ,
great america chairman harvey yellen said in a release .
we ' ve seen it ,
he said .
look what happened with gucci and burberry , jcpenney and lord & taylor , some of the great brand turnarounds of our lives . fortunoff is not nearly as tarnished as any of those examples .
competition in the home furnishing market had become even fiercer as consumers reaped the benefits of the housing bubble , experts said . fortunoff ' s also did not have a store prototype it could successfully roll out , they said . and the white plains store , modeled on the westbury location , did not live up to expectations . among the company ' s bankruptcy filings , fortunoff notes that the white plains store
has never achieved the level of anticipated sales , and in fact , has continually operated at a loss .
in 2005 , the fortunoff family , which has operated the business since it opened on livonia avenue in brooklyn in 1922 , sold a 75 percent stake in the company to the trimaran and kier groups . the family sold the remaining 25 percent to trimaran later .
bobby wilkerson , president of wilkerson and associates added , “since 1922 consumers have looked to fortunoff for its quality , selection , and value of fine jewelry . this liquidation sale is affording an excellent opportunity to shop for quality jewelry and watches at incredible value . ”
a court - ordered liquidation sale was in full swing thursday at all 20 stores operated by bankrupt jewelry a nd housewares retailer fortunoff fine jewelry and silverware llc . hundreds of shoppers rushed to the stores , many to use their gift cards before they become worthless .
alan m . fortunoff , who transformed a mom - and - pop store in brooklyn selling pots and pans to a fifth avenue retailer specializing in discounted jewelry and home furnishings , died on tuesday at his home in old westbury , n . y . he was 67 .
fortunoff , a shopping institution on long island for decades , said monday it has filed for bankruptcy protection and agreed to be acquired by the owners of lord & taylor , the second change in ownership for the westbury - based home furnishing and jewelry chain in two years .
( newsday ( melville , ny ) ( krt ) via thomson dialog newsedge ) feb . 11 - - mention of the fortunoff name evokes many associations , often including the words
quality and price .
but for long island shoppers , the name also has a face .
the company , which sells jewelry , dinnerware and furniture in new york , new jersey , pennsylvania and connecticut , filed for bankruptcy protection earlier this month . fortunoff is owned by nrdc equity partners , a private equity firm that bought the retailer out of an earlier bankruptcy last year .
hundreds , perhaps thousands , of fortunoff shoppers - some nostalgic , others merely intent on bargain - hunting - lined up at jewelry counters , tested couches and browsed fine - china collections inside the retailer ' s flagship store in westbury yesterday , the first day of a liquidation sale .
fortunoff , which was founded 87 years ago , filed for bankruptcy protection for the second time on feb . 5 . no buyer surfaced , and a group of liquidation firms won the auction on monday with a deal worth 88 . 8 percent for about $ 96 million of inventory .
if there was any irony in the fact that the grand reopening for the fortunoff backyard store had to be postponed for a day because of a blizzard that hit the new york area , it certainly didn ' t seem to bother any of the people on hand for that opening .
nrdc , however , has infused $ 10 million into the company so it can continue operating , and baker said the company plans on rolling out fortunoff home and bridal registries as boutiques within lord & taylor stores - - something baker expects will stabilize the company even in a shaky economy .
these are unprecedented economic times , and its unfortunate that after all those years , a new york icon like fortunoff is going to close and people are going to lose their jobs ,  said harvey yellen , chairman of great american group , one of the firms handling the liquidation sale .
the chain began liquidating all of its stores on february 25 , 2009 ; the sales concluded a little more than three months later in the first week of june 2009 . in july 2009 , following company dissolution , the descendants of max and clara fortunoff reacquired the intellectual property and website .
established in 1922 on brooklyn ' s livonia avenue , fortunoff followed its customers as they moved to the suburbs of long island and opened its flagship westbury store in 1964 , gaining the reputation as one of the country ' s
ultimate
lifestyle retail centers . it expanded in the 1970s and 1980s , adding stores in new jersey , connecticut and pennsylvania and bringing its jewelry and silverware operations to manhattan ' s prestigious fifth avenue . fortunoff was
giving department stores a run for their money ,
said marshal cohen , chief retail analyst for npd group , a port washington - based marketing research company .
someone told me that the fortunoff ' s outdoor store is coming back in the mall at westbury . i , for one , am not interested in that , i want the whole store to come back . i miss the housewares , gifts , linens , and especially the christmas departments most of all .
more than $ 100 million in business disappeared when we and home depot expo went out of business ,
said merkur , who headed up home merchandising for the old store and is chief merchant of the new one . merkur spent virtually his entire career - - 39 years - - with fortunoff .
even into their later years , founders max and clara fortunoff each continued to run their own sections within the flagship westbury store . their son , alan fortunoff , who built up the chain ' s legendary silver and jewelry business with his wife , helene , was not above mingling at barbecues and in the dens and kitchens of residents in the westbury area to gain support for the construction of the mall at the source . his sister , marjorie mayrock , president of home furnishings , was a common sight on the store floor , intricately involved in everything from merchandise display to advertising , according to people who know the family .
he also contributed to several jewish organizations , including the fortunoff video archive for holocaust testimonies at yale university and the salomon schechter school of manhattan . he was a trustee of the new york university law center foundation and a member of the dean ' s advisory council of the stern school of business at the university .
davidowitz said it remains to be seen what nrdc will do for fortunoff . but , he said , he can see reductions ahead .
there has to be layoffs and cutbacks ,
davidowitz said .
i think the whole business has to be looked at . they might even have to close stores .
owned by a group that includes former management - - ceo bernard sensale and chief operating officer marty merkur , and majority owners the barish family that runs the chair king in texas - - the new fortunoff features one of the old store ' s cornerstone merchandise classifications , not to mention one of its most profitable .
some brides must have emotional connections to fortunoff . it was a place they went with their grandmothers , maybe , or where their first pearls were bought . maybe , for them , the name alone is enough to inspire the perception of continuity ; of an unbroken chain of family tradition , as opposed to just a chain .
the two , with the backing of the barish family - - david barish is president of the chair king and furniture concepts , the launch company that merkur and sensale started - - hope to regain a big piece of that market share . together fortunoff and chair king say they expect to do $ 70 million a year .
jewelry and home furnishings retailer fortunoff holdings llc , which has been in operation for more than 87 years , will conduct a court - ordered bankruptcy liquidation sale beginning sept . 26 , according to a statement issued by the gordon co . , one of a group of seven liquidation companies that won an auction to manage the liquidation .
people wrote letters from all around the country asking , ' can you build a fortunoff here ? '
said carla cromie amato , marjorie mayrock ' s personal assistant for 10 years .
but she never went that far , because she wanted it to be a hands - on family thing . she was a dynamo .
they turned the company over to their children in 1957 . alan fortunoff and his wife , helene , ran the jewelry and fine silver operations . his sister , marjorie mayrock , and her husband , harold , operated the home furnishings division . the third generation of fortunoffs and mayrocks also has been involved in running the business throughout the years .
if you read some of the internet announcements , you ' ll note the ' return ' of fortunffs is being launched by former execs from their outdoor furniture department with investment and licensing to use the brand names fortunoff , the source and customer data bases from one of the family members . there also are investment $ $ from the furniture king ( texas - based outdoor furniture retailer ) . this new venture is named furniture concepts . they have rehired former managers and sales associates to appear as if the original fortunoff ' s is back . it is not the same family owned business that moved from brooklyn to westbury and in my opinion will attempt to capitalize on its past reputation .
kanaras , 68 , of baldwin , who had picked up a pearl necklace for 30 percent off , said she has been visiting fortunoff since moving to long island in 1967 . yesterday , she said she was happy to still be able to use a gift card , but disappointed she would have to find somewhere else to do her holiday shopping .
in the transaction , for which no purchase price was disclosed , nrdc along with true north retail investments , an affiliate of the intertech group , inc . , acquired hbc and consolidated its ownership of l & t , fortunoff , and creative design studios ( cds ) under a holding company called the hudson ' s bay trading company ( hbtc ) .
in what will be the most significant sale in fortunoff’s long and storied history , inventory valued at approximately $ 212 million will be completely liquidated . customers will find tremendous savings on everything in the store , including fine jewelry and watches , antique jewelry and silver , everything for the table , fine gifts , home furnishings including bedroom and bath , fireplace and outdoor furnishings .
arff , with more than 75 combined years of financial , real estate , retail and luxury and lifestyle home goods industry experience , includes joel kier of the kier group , frank j . sciame , jr . and john randolph of sciame development , and isidore mayrock , former principal partner of fortunoff , the home furnishings retailer his family founded in 1923 and sold in 2005 .
a small case in back was , for me , the heart of the store : a selection of vintage estate pieces bought by ruth fortunoff , who clearly has an eye for them . i loved a thick 18 - karat rope fastened by two rams’ heads and glittering knobs of ruby and sandstone . it was very fall of rome . tragically , it was $ 6 , 500 .
the going - out - of - business sale comes as a result of the companys chapter 11 filing on feb . 5 , after which fortunoff tried unsuccessfully to find a buyer in an auction earlier this week . the sale will include inventory valued near $ 212 million and 20 store locations in new york , new jersey , connecticut and pennsylvania . store fixtures will also be sold .
in recent years , however , the company lost its edge , and the family sold its stake to a joint venture of two investment firms - - trimaran capital partners and the kier group - - between 2005 and 2007 . a week ago , fortunoff filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy even as it announced a deal for lord & taylor ' s parent company to acquire it for $ 100 million .
when helene [ fortunoff ] started the jewelry business , she started under the unique concept of fair pricing in jewelry ,
said howard davidowitz , chairman of davidowitz & associates , a manhattan - based national retail consultant .
i had a bunch of jewelry clients at the time and they were charging all sorts of crazy markups . and helene went out and charged a fair price .
i came to mourn ,
said rosemarie godfrey , 68 , of franklin square , before walking into the store to browse . godfrey worked in operational buying at the retailer from 1983 to 1992 , and said she was
proud to be part of the fortunoff family . i have to pay my respects ,
she added .
my daughter and i were like regulars here .
fortunoff will begin going - out - of - business sales at all of its 20 stores today . a joint venture group of liquidators handling the sale includes hudson capital partners . the liquidators said they paid 88 . 8 % of the cost value of the inventory , estimated at about $ 96 million . the sales will run until the entire inventory is sold , according to a spokesperson for the deal .
( newsday ( melville , ny ) ( krt ) via thomson dialog newsedge ) feb . 4 - - fortunoff , a shopping institution on long island for decades , said monday it has filed for bankruptcy protection and agreed to be acquired for $ 100 million by the owners of lord & taylor , the second change in ownership for the westbury - based home furnishing and jewelry chain in the past two years .
we always watch trends very closely at the fortunoff stores ,
he said .
we try new sales techniques in terms of what consumers are interested in when it comes to product knowledge . we ' ll listen to them on the floor and that drives some of the videos we ' ll post on weber . com . it gave us lots of insights on how we can improve our services .
bought a dining table with chairs , server , 4 club chairs , 4 ottomans cushions and pillows . every fall through spring all my furniture is covered with covers from fortunoff . this year i found milky white cloud spots around my dining table after uncovering it . fortunoff service tells me i am 4 months out of warranty and will not stand behind their product . spoke to anthony cavaco , gen . manager , who brought my case to manufacturer . he got them to agree to take table back . anthony also helped me to get an upgrade in another table with a reasonable price different and a brand new table cover , too . i am so happy with the generosity and extreme fairness of my dealings with anthony who was very supportive and understanding . thank you anthony for standing by me and helping me with this situation !
a federal bankruptcy judge in man - hattan said tuesday that he was prepared to approve the sale of fortunoff holdings llc to seven companies that would liquidate its stores and inventory . final approval by judge robert drain is expected at a hearing this morning set for 9 a . m . two outstanding issues to be resolved today are the finalization of a service agreement and the judge’s need to resolve questions about jewelry held by the retailer on a consignment basis . the deal emerged during an auction monday in which the companies outbid stalking horse bidder gordon brothers retail partners and hilco merchant resources with an offer of roughly $ 82 million . the seven firms are tiger capital group llc , sb capital group llc , kimco realty services , great american group wf llc , hudson capital partners llc , the gordon co . inc . ( unrelated to gordon brothers ) and bobby wilkerson inc . the latter two are jewelers that will deal with fortunoff’s jewelry inventory . the stalking horse bid amounts to 80 percent of the guaranteed value of the assets , while the winning bid equaled 88 . 8 percent of that amount . the group led by tiger capital last week had attempted to make a stalking horse bid of its own of about 77 percent of the total value of the assets . lawyers for fortunoff argued that it was necessary to effect a transaction immediately to have going - out - of - business sales ready to start as the mother’s day selling season began . fortunoff filed for chapter 11 bankruptcy court protection on feb . 5 . it was its second filing in as many years . the retailer filed early in 2008 , and was brought out of bankruptcy when it was acquired by nrdc equity partners .
video testimony ) - - the unique identifier used to locate testimonies in the fortunoff video archive . these records contain a brief summary of the tesitmony and several library of congress subject headings , both topical and geographic . to locate the corresponding bibliographic record in orbis , you will need to conduct a keyword search for
hvt - #
( including the quotation marks ) , i . e .
hvt 30
.
even with the increasing competition , fortunoff and other retailers in luxury jewelry and home furnishings fared well during the late 1990s and into 2000 - - and then rode the wave of a booming housing market . but then came the decline , prompted by a growing emphasis on a more casual lifestyle , a slowing housing industry , the lack of an easily expandable store concept and the company ' s slow attempts to adapt , according to industry experts .
a total of 11 patients with urogenital sinus anomalies have undergone a modified fortunoff technique combining total urogenital mobilization with the creation of urogenital sinus flaps by a single surgeon ( rg ) since 1998 . patient age at surgery ranged from 3 months to 13 years ( mean 3 . 8 years ) . diagnoses included congenital adrenal hyperplasia in 7 patients , cloacal malformation in 2 and urogenital sinus malformation in 2 . eight patients underwent a perineal approach and 3 underwent a posterior sagittal approach .
use of these materials will require registration at yale ' s manuscripts and archives . as is the case with other materials from the fortunoff video archive , permission to view these materials is not the same a permission to publish or cite from these materials . any citation of individual items from this collection must use the
cite as
field in the corresponding catalog record ( see associated materials ) . only the first letter of the survivor ' s surname is used to protect that person ' s anonymity .
that sort of family presence and dedication to providing a wide selection of quality goods for their customers is what led to the fortunoff chain ' s rise and decades of dominance as a - - some would say the - - original lifestyle retail center , carrying housewares , jewelry , silverware and furniture . for a time , the regional chain ' s small size and family management gave it the advantages of nimbleness and an intimate knowledge of its customer base that allowed it to compete successfully with national department store chains .
this deal was teased last week and has gone through . back when nrdc originally bought lord & taylor , everyone thought it was purely a real estate deal - - that nrdc would redevelop some sites , particularly lord & taylor ' s massive new york flagship , and sell others . but they ' ve kept lord & taylor going and brought some new life to the brand and now are adding fortunoff to the mix . and nrdc is saying again that they ' re not just in it for the real estate . they ' re going to inject cash into the franchise and keep it going .
i bought what seemed like a very nice and somewhat expensive patio set in april . the staff in the staten island store was very , very nice . after the delivery and minimal usage , we found the the webbing under the couch cushions was too loose and the cushions sagged down . my first call was back to the store . the manager ( who was oh so nice when we were about to buy the set ) said
i don ' t know what to tell you , call the number for corporate for warranty issues .
when i called the corporate office , i was told
send us an email with photos .
i sent the photos and an email , called to follow up , sent another email and called again . it ' s now 3 months later , mid summer when i ' d like to enjoy this expensive new set and i haven ' t heard a word back from fortunoff . i ' d suggest that anyone about to make a purchase there would know that there is zero customer service to be had if anything is wrong with the product . after a few more calls , fortunoff replaced the couch and cushions . it took longer than it should have but to be fair , i ' ve updated the story .
buyer beware , the so called seven year warranty that fortunoff brags about is all lies . each employee will tell you that the warranty is covered by fortunoff but its not , its not a seven year warranty . i bought a table set for over 2k 3 years ago and it has oxidized so much that the table is disgusting and the chairs are starting to fall apart and after starting a claim i was told that manufacture will not even entertain my claim because it is not a structural issue . they told me to take my table to a body shop and have them refinish it and paint it and also said that if i don ' t someone with a body shop that it will be cheaper to buy a new table than get it refinished . they also told me to purchase a set that was $ 3 , 500 to avoid going through his and its not even a guarantee that i will not have the issue so i spent over 2k for my first set and then they want me to spend $ 3 , 500 on a different set in a 4 year span . i cancelled all my order for a new wicker patio set and will never do business here again . better off buying a set from home depot for a fraction of the price and not feel guilty about throwing it out in year or two . fortunoff didn ' t even try to make it right with me even though i spent way over $ 10k in a 4 year span with them and has lost a customer forever . i was not asking for a full refund but just to make it right and they couldn ' t come through . the workers are very nice except for the manager john , who was not helpful and kept on telling me that the person i spoke with prior was way over his pay grade . i hope this review will help someone else before they go through the same issue .


the jel sert company is a privately held company based in west chicago , illinois , united states .

established in 1926 , its primary products are snack foods and beverages .

jel sert

jel sert , 1926 the jel sert company was founded in 1926 and remains privately held to this day . jel sert ' s first product was a gelatin dessert mix called jel sert , a name derived from combining
jelly
and
dessert
.
© 2018 jel sert . all rights reserved . terms & conditions | privacy policy
jel sert has implemented our employee recognition program to give employees the opportunity to recognize their fellow employees for the work and actions that support jel sert’s objectives and principals .
jel sert licensing program begins , 2003 jel sert kicked off its licensing program by partnering with kellogg ' s to make keebler fudge shoppe chocolate freezer bars . jel sert next worked with dr . pepper snapple group to launch hawaiian punch powders and freezer bars within the next three years .
glassdoor gives you an inside look at what it ' s like to work at the jel sert company , including salaries , reviews , office photos , and more . this is the the jel sert company company profile . all content is posted anonymously by employees working at the jel sert company .
for over eighty years , generations of families have enjoyed jel sert products . quality , flavor , fun and value have always been and will always be the guiding principles at the jel sert company .
our onsite training programs provides expert instructors and tailored training programs , unique to jel sert’s policies and procedures .
charles t . and lillian wegner establish jel sert in a small facility on chicago ' s lake street .
the jel sert company continues to stand by our commitment of providing safe quality food products to our consumers .
jel sert canada , 2007 jel sert headed north in 2007 and began selling freezer bars in canada . now canadian consumers can enjoy a wide variety of our fun foods including freezer bars , drink and dessert mixes .
jel sert is committed to investing in our employees . with the option to attend offsite training , seminars , and / or conferences , this allows for further individual development resulting in the development and capabilities of jel sert .
the pop - ice company is acquired , enabling jel sert to enter a new market that it eventually dominates .
jel sert company .
international directory of company histories . . retrieved july 09 , 2018 from urltoken urltoken
service awards are just one way jel sert recognizes our employees and how important they are to the organization . when reaching milestone years , jel sert celebrates the achievement and the loyalty one has given to the company throughout their years of service .
new employees are eligible to enroll in jel sert’s 401k plan on the first of the month following 30 days of employment .
griffin , jake ,
w . chicago sweet on jel sert ,
chicago daily herald , july 23 , 2003 .
jel sert will supply safe quality food products to consumers by consistently meeting the requirements of our food safety and quality systems .
jel sert over the years has run promotions , but nothing of this magnitude .
we ' re having an exceptional year ,
reports manenti , though he won ' t provide figures . jel sert is believed to have annual sales of $ 140 million .
the 401 ( k ) plan is a pre - tax retirement savings vehicle that is built on contributions from you and jel sert .
jel sert is committed to providing employees with development opportunities as we are invested in your long term success and advancement within the organization .
jel sert company .
international directory of company histories . . encyclopedia . com . ( july 9 , 2018 ) . urltoken
jel sert licensing program expands , 2008 jel sert debuted a new portfolio of licensed freezer bars in 2008 including soda pops with dr . pepper , 7up , orange crush and a & w ; root beer flavors as well as tampico and jelly belly flavored pops . jel sert also introduced diet snapple singles to go ! powdered soft drinks , giving consumers a new way to enjoy their favorite snapple flavors .
we like our opportunities with both promotions ,
says steven manenti , jel sert ' s executive vice president - marketing and sales .
if you wish to purchase additional lines of insurance coverage , jel sert offers a range of aflac plans to help you with unexpected expenses .
gallun , alby ,
jel sert wiggles into kraft - dominated market ,
crain ' s chicago business , january 22 , 2001 .
the jel sert company continues to stand by our commitment of providing safe quality food products to our consumers . in order to . . .
kool pops / mr . freeze , 2007 the jel sert company acquired rights to the mr . freeze brand as well as the licensing rights to the kool pops brand from kraft foods . both brands enjoy a strong , nostalgic heritage that jel sert has kept alive and well .
frootee ice , 2004 frootee ice was acquired by jel sert and later introduced for consumers to enjoy in a fresh , new mesh bag package .
the jel sert company is strongly committed to making your child’s experience on our web site safe and enriching . see our privacy policy for more information .
i applied online . the process took 2 + months . i interviewed at the jel sert company ( san francisco , ca ) in january 2015 .
i started working at jel sert in 2011 . they offered me the opportunity to be part of the team . currently , i am working in the shipping department . it is a very positive work environment . if you are willing and wanting to learn , jel sert offers you the opportunity to grow .
i’ve been with jel sert for 9 years and one of the best things about being here is that if you have an idea for an improvement , management will listen . if your idea is justified , you get to implement it . it’s really a “what’s best for jel sert” mentality that doesn’t shut down ideas to remove roadblocks and headaches . jel sert is always looking for ways to improve and they recognize that their employees know the process and have good ideas .
jel sert ' sr & d staff provides any item with great taste and texture to help make a traditionally difficult experience into one that is enjoyable .
the jel sert company , “makers of fun foods , ” is a family - owned business providing our customers with high quality and high value food products .
jel sert is three blocks away from metra’s union pacific / west line in west chicago . the quick scenic walk to our facility is safe and well lit .
jel sert selects qad erp software ; powdered beverages & freezer bar maker finds qad a recipe for success ,
business wire , august 31 , 1998 .
cross training employees allows jel sert to be prepared for situations in which an employee needs to jump in and assist in order to keep the business running as usual .
jel sert employees are able to purchase our products at a reduced cost . it’s as easy as putting your order in by tuesday morning and receiving it on thursday !
jel sert experienced growth during the 1930s and soon relocated its operations to a larger plant on 1020 south central park avenue . the company ' s success was due in part to the wegners ' fiscal responsibility , as the bulk of profits were invested back into the business . this enabled jel sert to fund its expansion efforts independently .
the jel sert company is seeking candidates who take pride in their work and are looking to contribute their unique ideas , skills , experience , and passion to our company .
in efforts to increase students and parents interest in manufacturing , jel sert has formed programs with local schools , community colleges , businesses , chambers , and branches of government .
we are proud of the actions our employees have taken to support our safety initiative . jel sert takes pride in the safety achievements that have been accomplished over the years !
of consumer healthcare matt ingemi discussed the capabilities the company came to develop in the decade after its new division was established , explaining :
jel sert has the ability to take a medicine or nutritional / functional ingredient and create a great - tasting finished product . jel sert can then take that product and put it into fun , unique formats
jel sert has partnered with west chicago community high school and college of dupage to provide local students with the required skills and knowledge necessary as they prepare to enter the manufacturing workforce .
jel sert believes our employees are our greatest asset and we will continue to do our part to provide employees with a work environment that is safe and free from potential safety hazards .
jel sert realizes the value of bringing training onsite . learning in a group environment boosts individual and team knowledge , refines processes and provides an excellent team - building opportunity for our employees .
jel sert gives our employees the opportunity to raise funds for organizations close to their heart through virtual fundraisers . you chose the organization and the employees receive casual days in return for their donation .
hampson , philip ,
the road to success . a sketch of mrs . charles t . wegner , president of jel sert co . ,
chicago tribune , june 16 , 1956 .
the jel sert company opened its arms for me in 2010 . since then , i am so proud to be part of the jel sert family . i started as a qa lab technician on 3rd shift and right away noticed that i was among hard working employees . the fact that every department works hard every day looking for ways to improve inspired me to learn more about this wonderful company . my superiors gave me all the necessary tools to expand my knowledge and cross train in other areas of my department . jel sert gave me the support by allowing me to take part in internal and external training which helped me achieve the dream of becoming the qc supervisor . jel sert is my second family that has watched me mature , gain knowledge , and be a better person every day .
we encourage employees to help support victims of natural disasters by donating to disaster relief organizations . jel sert has pledged to match employee donations raised through our company sponsored fundraisers to help those in need .
for nearly a century , the jel sert company has focused on the singular mission of making high quality , high value food and beverage products that help families and friends gather together to create lasting memories .
the jel sert company is based in west chicago , illinois , where over 1 , 000 employees share the company’s passion for producing high quality , high value products that are staples in family households nationwide .
heading into the end of the decade , jel sert continued to improve the sophistication of its operations . this was evident in the implementation of specialized software to manage the company ' s transportation and logistics functions . in 2007 jel sert continued to produce its own brands , making and selling more freezer pops than any other company in the world , and to focus on expanding production of privatelabel goods for other companies .
jel sert continues to reinforce safety policies and practices , educate and encourage employee involvement within our safety program . we are committed to our employees and continue to recognize and award employees for their continued safety accomplishments .
the jel sert company offers a great work environment to learn and grow . i joined the jel sert company in 2007 as a local area network administrator ( lan ) . as the lan administrator , i got to see firsthand how we virtualize our server room and desktops . i now oversee the computer operations group . one of the things i enjoy about working here is the opportunity to learn and apply new emerging technologies .
jel sert will match . 50 cents for every dollar you contribute of the first 6 % , however employees can invest up to 60 % of their pay ( depending on annual irs and required plan limits ) .
if you are looking for a privately held , innovative , results driven organization that rewards and values creativity , professionalism , teamwork , honesty , and longevity then follow the link above to apply at the jel sert company .
to promote employee health and wellness , jel sert supports and encourage all corporate employees to enhance their quality of their life through a continual process of lifestyle improvement and balanced living by offering our health club membership reimbursement program .
otter pops , 1996 otter pops® was acquired in 1996 , and is the strongest freezer pop brand on the west coast . today , jel sert produces and sells more freezer pops than any other company in the world .
even though the opportunity to work remotely does not apply to all positions , jel sert understands that that trends are clearly moving towards embracing flexible work as a way of doing business , rather than doing business the same old way .
flextime at jel sert is a work schedule with time of arrival and departure that differs from the standard office hours of 8 : 30 a . m . to 5 : 00 p . m . , or department hours of operation .
based in west chicago , illinois , the jel sert company employs over 1 , 000 passionate people who share our mission of making high quality , high value food and beverage products that help families and friends gather together to make lasting memories .
the trick for firms like jel sert co . , with a coupon offer on the back of packages of general mills ' honey nut cheerios , is to make the promotion as valuable as possible so that redemption is high enough to justify such a program .
jel sert will reimburse employees up to one - half ( 1 / 2 ) of the employee’s eligible fees , of an individual monthly health club membership , up to a maximum amount of $ 30 . 00 per month provided the employee follows the guidelines .
typically , coupon redemption overall will average 3 to 4 percent . redemption of coupons on cereal boxes from outside firms can range from a mere half of 1 percent to 40 percent , says a source at general mills , which approached jel sert for this promotion .
privately - held jel sert has a top ally with honey nut cheerios . this cheerios brand in 1998 posted sales of $ 204 million , backed by an advertising budget of $ 33 million , according to information resources inc . and competitive media reporting , respectively .
wyler ' s® / wyler ' s light® 2000 jel sert acquired the wyler ' s™ trademark in 1994 . wyler ' s light , introduced in 2000 , is well known for its great tasting low - calorie , sugar - free products that everyone can enjoy .
jel sert prices their products fairly , and doesn’t waste time with annoying coupon programs or lots of “brand positioning” or tiring product extensions and product reformulations and redesigns that confuse customers . they are the anti - kraft , and for that , consumers should be grateful .
while we respect your individuality , your neat appearance is important to our ability to maintain a professional atmosphere and leave a favorable impression with our customers and visitors . jel sert strives to be known as an organization where employees enjoy their work environment while achieving extraordinary results .
jel sert is committed to providing reasonable accommodations to enable all applicants with disabilities , handicaps , or applicants affected by pregnancy , child birth , or medical conditions related to pregnancy or child birth provided the individual is otherwise qualified to perform the essential functions of the job .
as a company built to manage our own mainstream retail product development and sales , the jel sert company has an unmatched understanding of what our clients need and expect from a manufacturing partner . from our trusted team of development and project management experts who work closely with our clients , to our ability to provide turn - key solutions , the jel sert company delivers an exceptional client experience with a high - quality final product . our west chicago , il manufacturing resources feature state - of - the - art systems that include the following certifications :
in order to recognize the varied and changing personal needs of jel sert staff and the flexible work - styles present in today’s workplace , we are pleased to offer a plan for flexible working hours to corporate office employees . please note , this policy does not apply to members of management .
for nearly a century , the jel sert company has focused on creating high quality , high value foods and beverages that help bring people together . as a proud family owned business , they understand that sharing a meal ; a treat or even just a quick beverage can be . . .
mondo , 1991 mondo® fruit squeezers were launched by jel sert in 1991 . strong promotions and national advertising have helped it become a well - known brand in the juice drink category . with the advantages of convenience and recyclability , mondo provides more fun to children than the traditional juice - box .
jel - sert started making gelatine in 1926 , and continues on to this day , still family owned by the charles wegner family . it is an extremely focused company , but has expanded on its sugary niche by working with pharmaceutical products useful with healthcare . ( see the history here . )
jel sert has occasionally offered employees an opportunity to bring a brown bag lunch to an onsite wellness training or presentation over their lunch hour . this allows employees the opportunity to either learn how to take advantage of the benefit plan offerings , learn about specific health topics , or even healthy life style choices .
west chicago - based jel sert has a good deal at stake in promotions . it also will launch a modest rebate offer on the
babe : pig in the city
video on packaging of its fla - vor - ice and flavor - aid . packaging with that offer is just hitting retail outlets .
jel sert employees are committed to giving back ! employee have the opportunity to volunteer at nifb on designated dates with their coworkers . this gives employees the opportunity to engage with coworkers in which they don’t have a chance to while helping the food bank inspect , sort or package food before it’s distributed to our hungry neighbors .
jel sert is proud to support the fight against ovarian cancer through knowledge and awareness . our support is in honor of those within our global community who have been affected by ovarian cancer – the survivors , patients , caregivers and the loved ones – yours and ours . help break the silence . . . talk about ovarian cancer .
jel sert offers an annual onsite free flu shot clinic to all employees . this is a voluntary option that is offered to all employees on a designated date each november . the only requirement is for employees to sign up prior to the event ! who would not want to get paid while taking a few minutes to help prevent the flu !
beginning in june , about 7 million boxes of honey nut cheerios , the third - best - selling cereal behind regular cheerios and kellogg ' s frosted flakes , will carry a 2 - for - 1 coupon offer on the back panel for jel sert ' s freezer bars - - fla - vor - ice , pop - ice and otter pops .
by late 2006 , jel sert had forged its first exclusive licensing agreement with another manufacturer . the deal with unistraw international pty . involved the production of a unique line of straws that added flavor to milk during the drinking process . called sipahh , the straw devices also could be used to add pharmaceuticals , nutrition , vitamins , and more to beverages .
jel sert offers the best of both worlds to an employee . they are privately owned with incredible longevity and have a vision for continued growth in the future . they really care about work - life balance , and manufacture high quality , fun products in a safe , clean manufacturing environment . i like knowing i work for a company that cares about its employees and customers .
the jel sert company is a leading manufacturer of powder and liquid products , working within the standards and regulations for food , medical foods , dietary supplements , nutritional products and otc pharmaceuticals . for the past 20 years , our team has been dedicated to establishing an exemplary manufacturing infrastructure that supports the needs of some of the world ' s largest cpg ' s and pharmaceutical companies .
in an august 31 , 1998 , business wire release , jel sert vice president of finance mike alger said :
qad ' s mfg / pro gives us a fully integrated system allowing forecasting and sales to drive purchasing and production . the system integrates mrp , sales forecasting , scheduling and purchasing functions with financials so that we can achieve more efficient , cost - effective use of our resources .
my - t - fine / royal , 2000 in december 2000 , jel sert acquired the royal® and myt * t * fine® brands , both of which have a strong and lyal following . the royal brand , which includes puddings , gelatins , and flan , dates back to 1925 . my * t * fine , a premium cook - and - serve pudding brand , was introduced in 1918 .
jel sert will supply safe quality food products to consumers by consistently meeting the requirements of our food safety and quality systems . in addition , our company will continually review customer and regulatory requirements and establish objectives that seek to improve our products . employees will prioritize food safety and quality in the production of our products and be encouraged to offer their ideas for improving our food safety and quality management systems .
by the 1990s jel sert ' s operations had increased in complexity compared to only a few decades before . like other manufacturing organizations of similar size , the company relied on computer software to manage certain business processes . in 1997 the company began searching for a new , y2k - ready enterprise and manufacturing resource planning software system that could handle functions such as production scheduling , demand forecasting , and inventory control .
the following year , jel sert entered the candy manufacturing arena when it began producing the sweet cred candy brand for the u . s . market . already popular in europe , the line included skateboarders ( wind - up action figures affixed to candy - filled tubes ) , as well as cuties ( porcelain dolls with rainbow lollipops ) , and wrist lickers ( hard candy on a wrist - mounted strap ) .
in 2003 jel sert made plans to revitalize its brands . the strategy involved new packaging , reformulated products , and new product introductions . in addition , the company put more marketing muscle behind its wyler ' s light brand , joined forces with kellogg ' s keebler division to manufacture a new line of fudge pops , and forged a licensing deal with universal studios to offer on - pack promotions related to the movies spiderman and the hulk .
since its incorporation in 1926 , the jel sert company has been at the forefront of innovation in the food and beverage industry with an evolving portfolio of brands ranging from drink mixes and ready to drink beverages to dessert mixes and freezer pops . our beloved brands include otter pops , fla - vor - ice , pop - ice , kool pops , wyler’s light , flavor - aid , mondo , royal , and my - t - fine .
during this time , new offerings were introduced , including a syrup mix and prepared cornstarch pudding . by 1941 growth prompted jel sert to relocate again , to a larger , 27 , 000 - square - foot facility on 6601 south sayre avenue in chicago ' s clearing industrial district . completed in the fall of that year , the new facility served the company well during world war ii , when production included a variety of dessert mixes for the armed forces .
they make a joke of the assertion that candy companies need to move all their business to central america to save on costs . jel sert produces sugar filled stuff , and still manages to make it in the u . s . while i am sure it is tempting to move production , it has not happened . it’s funny that the overhead created by marketing and executives is never “outsourced” but the lesser cost of raw materials and labor is frequently shipped abroad .
it is the policy of the jel sert company to provide equal employment and advancement opportunities to all colleagues and applicants for employment without regard to race , color , ethnicity , religion , gender , pregnancy / childbirth , age , national origin , sexual orientation , gender identity or expression , disability or perceived disability , genetic information , citizenship , veteran or military status , marital or domestic partner status , or any other category protected by federal , state and / or local laws .
the stock market crash on october 29 , 1929 , ushered in the great depression , wreaking havoc on new and established businesses alike . however , jel sert was able to prosper during this difficult period in u . s . history because its products , which cost between 5 and 10 cents each , were within reach of virtually everyone . it was in 1929 that the company rolled out its flavor aid line of powdered soft drink mixes , capitalizing on the popularity of this type of product that had emerged earlier in the decade .
indeed , under lillian wegner ' s watchful eye the business continued to grow . by the mid - 1950s jel sert had become the third largest company in its field , with a base of approximately 75 workers , some of whom had been with the business for a quarter century . one of its employees was lillian wegner ' s son , charles t . wegner iii , who was learning company operations in the position of vice president . growth included new products , such as lemon - and orange - flavored drink mixes that were introduced around 1958 .
growth continued into the middle of the decade , as jel sert ' s workforce grew to 800 employees . based on data from information resources , inc . , reported in the august 2005 issue of dairy field , the company was the nation ' s leading manufacturer of ice pop novelties for the year ended july 10 , 2005 , with a commanding market share of 49 . 9 percent . the next largest players were private labels ( 13 . 3 % ) , followed by latin specialties inc . ( 9 . 6 % ) , and kraft foods inc . ( 4 . 9 % ) .
jel sert ' s sales totaled about $ 140 million at the dawn of the new millennium . the new century was quickly marked with notable developments . in december 2000 , the company acquired nabisco holdings corp . ' s $ 40 million baking powder , dry - mix pudding , no - bake dessert , and dry gelatin assets , which included davis baking powder and fleischmann ' s baking powder , as well as my - t - fine pudding and royal brand gelatin . the sale was made in connection with philip morris co . ' s acquisition of nabisco , per antitrust requirements that had to be met in order for the federal government to approve the deal .
getting promotional space on panels of cereal boxes can be difficult , though the task is easier if the cereal - maker initiates the promotion .
general mills also likes what manenti describes as
residual value
of the promotion . that is , once honey nut cheerios makes its way into households and onto the pantry shelves , youngsters can take over , nudging mom to redeem the
buy one , get one free
coupon .
sales are up , but profits are much better ,
submits daniel j . manella , chief executive officer , who was recruited for the post nearly two years ago , and subsequently hired manenti .
strictly personal : birthday greetings to keith magnuson , 52 ( coca - cola bottling ) ; bobo bojovic , 75 ; bob bailey , 54 ( bbdo ) ; crisis - management consultant dick starmann , 54 , and howard blumstein , 41 ( bdo seidmann ) .
when kids learn brand names along with math , some say the . . .
( starts with 1 or 2 letters followed by 4 or 5 numbers . for example : ' wb 8248 ' )
please call 630 - 876 - 4838 to learn about our process for donation requests and inquiries . no donation requests will be accepted via this web site . please allow 4 - 6 weeks for processing .
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our family of brands has expanded to include a variety of products that meet the needs of our growing base of loyal consumers . from those looking to indulge in a sweet snack or beverage on - the - go , to those seeking lower calorie or “clean label” options , our brands offer something for everyone .
we believe that our company’s continued success is dependent on our ability to attract incredible talent , which is why we invest in the professional development of our employees and work hard to help each exceed his or her potential .
check out our opportunities within our corporate , corporate manufacturing and manufacturing divisions below .
when selecting an hmo , you will need to choose and register with your current carrier a primary care physician ( pcp ) from a list of network providers .
if you require a specialist , outpatient procedure , or hospitalization , your registered pcp must refer you .
this ensures you remain within your hmo network . there aren’t out - of - network benefits with an hmo .
you have the flexibility to see any doctor or visit any hospital of your choice , however , you will pay significantly less money out of your pocket if you use a doctor or hospital that is in the network .
for most doctor visits and specialist visits , you simply pay a copayment at the time of service . preventative care services are generally covered at 100 % , with no cost share to you .
you have a great deal of flexibility and choice with a ppo , and can manage your out - of - pocket costs by remaining in network .
preventative care services are covered at 100 % as long as your physician bills your visit as preventative . for other services , including routine office visits , procedures , lab work , prescription drugs , etc . , no benefits will be paid until you have met your annual deductible .
the hsa is a bank account paired with your bcbs major medical coverage that allows you to save money on a tax - free basis to pay your deductible and other out - of - pocket medical expenses . qualified medical expenses that can be paid using this account include doctor visits , prescription drugs , chiropractic treatment , acupuncture , adult braces , and dental and vision expenses . you own the money in your hsa account and it is yours to keep – even when you change plans or retire . the funds can roll over from year to year and you do not pay tax on withdrawals used for qualified medical expenses .
you have the flexibility to use any dentist of your choice , however , you can manage your out - of - pocket costs by remaining in - network .
negotiated fees extend to all in - network services—even to non - covered services like cosmetics and adult orthodontia—and to services provided after the annual benefit maximum has been exceeded .
out - of - network fees are based on the schedule of maximum allowances .
the vision insurance plan provides reimbursement for vision related services ( eye exams , glasses , contact lenses , etc . ) , however , you can manage your out - of - pocket costs by utilizing in - network vision providers .
vision insurance is automatically given to employees , at no additional cost , that sign up for our medical insurance .
vesting begins after 2 years of service and is fully reached after 6 years of service .
your designated beneficiary will receive a benefit to help ease their financial burden if you die from a covered accident or illness . accidental death and dismemberment ( ad & d ) provides an additional benefit if you die or become dismembered due to a specifically covered accident .
employee coverage in $ 10 , 000 increments ; maximum of $ 500 , 000 , not to exceed 7 times salary ; $ 150 , 000 guarantee issue for 7 / 1 / 2016 enrollment .
spousal coverage in $ 5 , 000 increments ; maximum of $ 250 , 000 , not to exceed 50 % of employee amount ; $ 30 , 000 guarantee issue for 7 / 1 / 2016 enrollment .
if you become ill or suffer an injury that prevents you from working , this form of disability insurance replaces a portion of your income for a defined maximum period of time .
if you become ill or suffer an injury that prevents you from returning to work for an extended period of time , this program will replace a portion of your income for a defined period of time .
ltd benefits pays up to 66 . 67 % of pre - disability earnings to a maximum of $ 10 , 000 per month
if you wish to start or continue your education for the benefit of your career , you can receive reimbursement for classes that improve your ability to perform your present job and prepare you for advancement opportunities within the company .
onsite training offers employees the capacity to further build up their aptitudes and extend their expert learning while saving valuable time and maintaining productivity .
employees see firsthand how truly valued they are as a team member through the companies support of their development .
employees can be more focused and therefore learn better when they are away from the office . they will not be distracted by ringing phones , or be tempted to check their emails throughout the day .
there is the opportunity to network with others to find out what works best for them , what has given others the best results , or get clarity that our systems , procedures and / or policies are efficient .
cross training adds value to the business , but also to the employee . when an employee has been given the opportunity to cross train and takes on additional responsibilities , it is a result of management believing the employees growth potential and professional development goals .
an individual development plan assists employees in career and personal development . it allows employees to reach short and long term career goals and improve their current job performance .
employees are strongly encouraged to share their individual development plans with their manager in efforts to gain their support while working toward obtaining new skills intended for a future position .
other wellness programs will be evaluated for reimbursement under this benefit on a case by case basis . other wellness programs may include programs such as weight loss programs , yoga classes , smoking cessation programs , and other similar programs that support a healthy lifestyle . programs must be preapproved by the human resources department prior to enrollment .
walking programs are organized seasonally based upon expressed interest . with our program , each friday at noon , employees have the opportunity to walk a designated course within our community . additionally , participating employees are treated to healthy snacks throughout the course of the program .
our employee assistance program is in place to provide employees with assistance for personal problems ( e . g . martial , financial , emotional problems , family issues , substance / alcohol abuse , etc . ) that they may be adversely affecting their performance on the job and / or personal life . these problems do not have to be caused by workplace issues .
the eap includes a wide array of services such as behavioral health , work - life , health and wellness programs , basic legal assistance and referrals , financial guidance and much more .
all employees will accrue vacation time from the first day of their employment . vacation is accrued between january 1st and december 31st . employees can utilize vacation time through the first monday following the new year’s holiday however ; any unused vacation time that is not utilized by this time will be forfeited .
vacation time is based upon years of service . the minimum amount of vacation time is up to two ( 2 ) weeks and the maximum amount of vacation time can go up to five ( 5 ) weeks .
personal days are to be used to attend to personal business matters . hourly employees receive 3 paid personal days per calendar year * ; salaried employees receive personal days at the discretion of their department head .
sick days are to be used when you cannot work due to a non - work related illness or injury . hourly employees receive 5 paid sick days per calendar year * ; salaried employees receive sick days at the discretion of their department head . the only exception to this benefit applies to salaried employees working out of california . ca employees should contact hr for further information .
all employees are expected to be at work during the standard office / department hours unless approval is granted for a flexible work schedule .
in order to provide an enjoyable work environment , a business casual dress policy is in place as our dress code monday through thursday for corporate office employees with casual days every friday . this standard of dress invites employees to leave their customary business attire at home and wear business casual attire to the office .
our employees are our most valuable resource . employees are encouraged and will be rewarded for a candidate referral provided the candidate is qualified and hired for an open corporate position .
employees generally will have their performance evaluated at the end of the fiscal year . the review date is subject to change . a performance appraisal does not guarantee an increase in pay . rather , it is conducted for the purpose of assessing work performance and progress .
please tell us if you require a reasonable accommodation to search or apply for a position by calling our accommodation hotline at ( 630 ) 876 - 4940 . please leave a message and a member of our hr department will call you back within two ( 2 ) business days . please note that if you are calling for any reason other than to request an accommodation to search or apply for a job , such as calling to check on the status of your application , your call will not be returned .
examples of reasonable accommodations may include but are not limited to ; making a change to the application process or procedures , providing documents in an alternative format , using a sign language interpreter , or using specialized equipment .
as a proud family owned business , we understand that sharing a meal , a treat or even just a quick beverage can be an opportunity to create meaningful time with loved ones and good friends . in today’s fast - paced , busy world , these moments can be few and far between and thus all the more valued . that is why we believe we create plenty more than just delicious food and beverage products .
we bring smiles to a summer picnic gathering . we bring laughs to a holiday dinner table . we bring joy to the local neighborhood lemonade stand .
it is our pleasure to be able to assist in making these moments all the more memorable . thank you for allowing us to do so .
advancement opportunities . there are many things to learn and people willing to train and teach you . the people are nice and management is friendly . it is fast paced and going forth into pharmaceutical products is a smart move .
route 59 and conde street west chicago , illinois 60185 u . s . a . telephone : ( 630 ) 231 - 7590 toll free : ( 800 ) 323 - 2592 fax : ( 630 ) 231 - 3993 web site : urltoken
private company incorporated : 1926 employees : 600 ( 2005 ) sales : $ 187 million ( 2005 est . ) naic : 311412 frozen specialty food manufacturing ; 311930 flavoring syrup and concentrate manufacturing ; 311942 spice and extract manufacturing ; 311999 all other miscellaneous food manufacturing ; 312111 soft drink manufacturing
in time the company would go on to make pharmaceutical - grade products like pedia care pops for pfizer , as well as pedialyte for abbott labs . in the january
formats that can ease the administration of any functional product to otherwise hesitant recipients . from gels to freezer pops to beverages
by july of the following year the company had signed a deal with software developer qad for its mfg / pro system . the software , along with modules for supply chain management , financials , manufacturing , and distribution , was slated for implementation in january 1999 .
in june 2001 , ground was broken for an additional 208 , 000 - square - foot warehouse complex at 444 charles court in west chicago . the new facility included docks for 28 trucks to load the company ' s freezer pops and food products , as well as 5 , 000 square feet of office space .
upon the death of charles wegner , lillian wegner becomes the company ' s chief executive .
a consumer healthcare division is formed , allowing the company to serve the pharmaceutical industry .
nabisco ' s $ 40 million baking powder , drymix pudding , no - bake dessert , and dry gelatin assets are acquired .
american dairy queen ; carousel foods of america , inc . ; coolbrands international , inc . ; j & jsnack foods corp . ; kraft
healthy proposition : despite low - carb ' s fizzle , better - for - you frozen desserts remain in strong demand ,
dairy field , august 2005 .
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flavor - aid , 1929 the concept of powdered mixes was very popular in the 1920s , and led to the 1929 introduction of the flavor aid® line of powdered soft drink mixes .
pop - ice , 1963 the success of flavor aid in the 1950s led to the acquisition of the pop - ice® company in 1963 . pop - ice was a small company producing a unique freeze - at - home pop that offered the opportunity to enter an exciting new product category .
fla - vor - ice , 1969 the brand fla - vor - ice® was introduced in 1969 , to complement flavor aid , and quickly became the leading freezer pop in the united states .
began in 1970 by a group of parents whose children had been diagnosed with cancer . they came together to lobby for more research , and to support each other through the diagnosis and treatment of this life threatening disease at a time when very few children survived . today , acco is one of the largest grassroots , national organizations dedicated to improving the lives of children and adolescents with cancer and their families . we are proud to be associated with the acco and the fight against childhood cancer . our efforts focus on promoting awareness and supporting advocacy programs .
childhood cancer is the # 1 cause of death by disease of america’s children and each year there are approximately 12 , 600 children who are diagnosed with cancer in the u . s . in 2008 , we began adding the gold ribbon and acco information to our fla - vor - ice freezer pops packaging in support of the gold ribbons for childhood cancer awareness cause . this campaign now extends across millions of packages of fla - vor - ice , otter pops and pop - ice , inspiring childhood cancer advocacy and honoring those affected by the disease .
in addition to this program we are active both on - line through social media and off - line at local events to provide support and keep people informed . we hope that through our efforts more people will become aware of our partnership with the acco , the resources this organization provides and the need to be actively involved so that we can end childhood cancer .
since 1995 , the national ovarian cancer coalition ( nocc ) has been raising awareness , providing education and dispelling myths about this serious disease . too often , symptoms go unrecognized and ovarian cancer is detected too late .
look for the nocc logo and contact information on every package of wyler ' s light products .
the nocc continues to expand awareness and education campaigns , and initiates new projects through the generous support of corporations , foundations and individuals . for further information , please go to urltoken , e - mail nocc @ urltoken or call 1 - 888 - ovarian .
jelsert has room for growth , really rewards hard work . has a very competitive pay structure . the company has a great diverse group of employees that works well together .
only that it is a demanding industry that requires your a game . this is not a place for lifers not willing to be competitive . you must keep polishing your skills here and not fall asleep at the wheel .
initial phone interview with hr , lasted about 1 . 5 hours with the questions ranging from my experience and work history to behavioral questions . at the end of this discussion the hr manager advised me that i would be recommended for the next interview with the next level up sales manager . that interview took place on the phone which i passed and advanced to the first in person interview . the in person interview took place about a month later to which i was then invited to the final round . the final round of interviews included four other candidates and was broken out into two sessions , one being a lunch interview . the vp of sales and two sales managers conducted the interviews and the questions from the vp of sales focused on understanding my work history and experience . these folks were all very professional and friendly .