About Gerald B. Shreiber

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 with leading brands that include SUPERPRETZEL, ICEE, LUIGI’S and Minute Maid.

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 education, care for animals and other worthy causes.

Shreiber’s support of Rowan University and its students began in 2012 when he contributed $25,000 to help fund Rohrer College of Business. He followed in 2015 with $100,000 for scholarships to benefit undergraduate entrepreneurship majors.

“I believe in giving back to the community—and in supporting young people with talent and drive,” he said at the time of the gift. “I’m excited to be able to provide an education for some of them.”

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, which led to the naming of Shreiber School of Veterinary Medicine, supports scholarships for Rowan’s veterinary students. The gift is the third largest gift to Rowan University.

"I’ve been very fortunate in business over the years. I’m honored to give this gift. Animals are my passion, so I couldn’t think of a better way to give something back to make a positive impact on their lives," Shreiber said.

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

Shreiber’s rise to business success is a true rags to riches story—"It’s a business fairy tale come true," he said. Born in Bridgeton and raised in Atlantic City, he began his career as a machine shop trainee at Kulicke & Soffa, eventually moving into production and later, sales management. He later started his own firm manufacturing specialty machine parts, selling it in 1970.

In 1971, he bought a bankrupt soft pretzel company with eight employees and $400,000 in annual sales and turned it into J&J Snack Foods. Today, the company boasts more than 4,200 employees and more than $1.5 billion in annual sales with leading brands such as SUPERPRETZEL, ICEE, Luigi’s and Minute Maid.

 J&J Snack Foods has been recognized as a seven-time winner on the Forbes list of 200 Best Small Companies. Shreiber served as chairman emeritus until his death. 

Awards, advocacy and service

A two-time recipient of the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award, Shreiber in 2012 was the first recipient of the William G. Rohrer Business Leader of the Year Award. The same year, he served as a judge for the sixth annual Business Plan Competition for Rohrer College of Business.

An active philanthropist and animal lover, Shreiber has received many awards, including the Gold Heart Award from the Philadelphia Chapter of the Variety Club. He also was honored as South Jersey Humanitarian of the Year by the Animal Adoption Center in 2006.

Shreiber created his own foundation, SAFE (Shreiber Animal Foundation Enterprise), which made a transformational gift to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) to establish a pet therapy program. The foundation also funded a pet therapy program at Virtua Hospital.

He served as a board member for 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. 

Shreiber has served on the board of directors of the Jewish Community Center of Atlantic County, as well as the Federation of Jewish Charities. He also has supported a host of charities, including the ALS Association, CHOP, the Golden Slipper Camp, the Juvenile Diabetes Foundation and the United Way.

May 9, 2026