Small frozen pretzel business becomes $750 million giant in frozen bakery foods, snacks and specialties.

Frozen snack, bakery and specialties processor J&J Snack Foods Corp., Pennsauken, N.J., said this fall marked the company's 40th anniversary.

It was on September 27, 1971 that Gerald Shreiber bought the assets of J&J Soft Pretzel Company at a bankruptcy auction. At the time, J&J had eight employees and annual sales less of than $400,000. Today, officials say J&J has more than 3,000 employees and worldwide sales of nearly $750 million.

J&J expanding product portfolio includes SUPERPRETZEL frozen soft pretzels; ICEE, Slush Puppie and Arctic Blast frozen beverages; Luigi's and Mama Tish's frozen juice treats; Whole Fruit and Fruit-A-Freeze frozen desserts; Tio Pepe's and California Churros frozen churros; The Funnel Cake Factory frozen funnel cakes; and frozen cookies and bakery goods under such brands as Mrs. Goodcookie, Camden Creek, Country Home and Readi-Bake. The company said it distributes to more than 50,000 foodservice and retail outlets.

"While we are deeply proud of our company's success and its employees' accomplishments, we are equally optimistic about our future for continued growth and success," says Shreiber, president and CEO. "J&J is a rare combination of special niche products, complemented by people with superior work ethics sharing common dreams and goals.

J&J operates plants in Pennsauken, Bridgeport and Bellmawr, N.J.; Scranton, Hatfield and Chambersburg, Pa.; Carrollton, Texas; Atlanta; Moscow Mills, Mo.; Pensacola, Fla.; Vernon, Colton and Norwalk, Calif.; Holly Ridge, N.C.; and Weston, Ore.