Robert E. Rich Sr. was not just a successful 20th-century businessman; he was an innovator who transformed the entire American food industry. Unfortunately, many New Yorkers don’t know the contributions their fellow citizen made to the field. His achievements, triumphs, and setbacks are covered in the following article on new-york.name.
About the Prominent Industrialist
Rich was born in 1913 into a wealthy family. His father owned an ice cream factory. Rich attended the University at Buffalo, where he was a natural leader. After graduating from college, Rich’s journey began with a small investment in a dairy business that eventually grew into a massive corporation, one of the largest privately held food companies in the world. It all started in 1935 when Rich borrowed money from his father to found the “Wilbur Dairy Company,” which later became the “Jones-Rich Milk Company.”
The Success of Rich’s Products
The main product of Rich’s company was a cream substitute. His product became so popular and in-demand with consumers that other dairy producers in New York State and other regions filed lawsuits against him. They wanted Rich’s cream substitute to be banned. But despite the repeated lawsuits against Rich’s products, he won every single time. Dairy industrialists condemned Rich’s cream, calling it merely an imitation, not a real product. Meanwhile, Rich himself claimed he had replaced traditional cream with something better, just as cars had replaced horses. It’s worth noting that he not only won all the lawsuits but also became a leading figure in the new National Association of Advanced Foods.
This cream was arguably his most significant invention. It was the first non-dairy whipped topping, a product that revolutionized the food industry. This invention was born out of necessity during World War II when dairy shortages were high. Using soybeans, Rich was able to create a product that not only filled a market gap but also met the needs of people with dietary restrictions.
In addition to the cream, Rich’s company also produced éclairs, cake frosting, and soy-based ice cream. All of his recipes were innovative for their time. Rich’s company also spent some time producing dough for pizza companies and supermarkets. And just as importantly, Rich’s company made desserts for local schools. Eventually, his products spread not only throughout New York State but across the entire country.
Rich’s company produced such exquisite desserts that New Yorkers had never even imagined before. It was a universe of pies topped with white peaks and swirls, colorful donuts, flawless, thickly frosted cakes, and strawberry milkshakes with a perfect red rose on top, and so much more.
Thus, his company became the largest family-owned food company in the entire country.
The Growth of Rich’s Business
Under Rich’s leadership, the company achieved unprecedented success and its products became incredibly popular.
By the mid-20th century, Rich’s company had become one of the largest family-owned foodservice businesses not just in New York but in the entire U.S., introducing more than 2,000 different products to the market. The company holds the same leading positions in the 21st century. In 2005, sales reached a leading sum of $2.5 billion.
It’s also worth noting that Rich was not only a successful businessman and innovator; he was also a talented athlete. While at the University at Buffalo, he was the captain of both the football and wrestling teams. He was also a member of Alpha Kappa Psi and Bisonhead, a secret society on campus made up exclusively of men.
Rich never forgot about sports throughout his career. He did everything he could to support professional sports in Buffalo. In 1965, he was a co-founder of a group that tried to bring a National Hockey League franchise to Buffalo. A few years later, in 1972, his company acquired the naming rights for the new football stadium for the Buffalo Bills. In 1988, he made a purchase that allowed the Buffalo Bisons to remain in the city. Additionally, thanks to Rich, New York got Pilot Field, also known as Coca-Cola Field.
The heart of the prominent New York food industrialist stopped beating in 2006. He passed away at the age of 92 in Palm Beach, Florida. His entire food empire was inherited by his son, Robert Jr. It should also be noted that at the time of his death, Rich was one of the wealthiest people not just in the U.S. but in the world. His fortune was estimated at around $2 billion, and his company was and remains the largest family-owned food company in the United States. Rich undoubtedly made a huge contribution to the development of the food industry not only in the region but in the entire country, making scarce food products accessible to everyone during the difficult war years.
Sources:
- https://www.buffalosportshallfame.com/robert-rich-sr/
- https://richproducts.com.au/history
- https://foodsmack.blogspot.com/2006/02/this-guy-was-cool.html
- https://www.economist.com/obituary/2006/02/23/robert-rich
- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/richproducts_every-year-we-celebrate-our-founder-robert-activity-7173309287602077696-e9Df