A gifted South Jersey entrepreneur and philanthropist, Gerald B. Shreiber transformed a bankrupt soft pretzel company into an international brand in the multi-billion-dollar snack food and beverage industry.

Chairman of the board of J&J Snack Foods Corp., Shreiber built the company into one of the consummate niche players in the industry with leading brands that include SUPERPRETZEL, ICEE, LUIGI’S and Minute Maid.

Today, J&J boasts nearly 4,600 employees and sales of more than $1 billion annually.

The son and grandson of fruit and produce salesmen, Shreiber grew up outside of Atlantic City, where he developed a lifelong love of animals. He has used his extraordinary business success as a springboard to support both education and animal rights and welfare.

Named the South Jersey Humanitarian of the Year by the Animal Adoption Center in 2006, Shreiber served as a board member on a host of animal welfare associations, including, among many others, the Pennsylvania S.P.C.A., the North American Wildlife Park Foundation, and the Animal Welfare Institute. His foundation, S.A.F.E. (Shreiber Animal Foundation Enterprise), made a transformational gift for a pet therapy program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.

Shreiber’s support of Rowan University and its students began in 2014 when he funded scholarships for student entrepreneurs. In 2019, his $3 million gift established the Shreiber Family Pet Therapy Program, which brings certified therapy animals to Rowan’s campus to provide wellness resources to students, faculty and staff.

His $30 million gift to the veterinary school support scholarships for Rowan’s veterinary students. The gift is the third largest gift to Rowan University.

In recognition of his success as a businessman and his support of education and animal health and welfare, Shreiber will receive an honorary Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree at Rowan’s Commencement in May of 2023.