Hebrew National
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Hebrew National is a brand of kosher hot dogs and sausages made by ConAgra Foods, Inc.
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[edit] History
It was founded in 1905 as Hebrew National Kosher Sausage Factory, Inc. by Jewish Romanian immigrant butcher Isadore Pines (born Pinckowitz). In 1965, Hebrew National came up with the slogan that they've used ever since: We Answer to a Higher Authority - a reference to Jewish dietary laws and a claim to higher quality that was able to appeal to both Jewish and non-Jewish markets.
In 1968, the Pines family sold Hebrew National to Riviana Foods, which was taken over by Colgate-Palmolive in 1976. In 1980, Isidore "Skip" Pines - grandson of the founder - bought the company from Colgate-Palmolive. The health food movement of the 1980s encouraged the company to stick to a recipe that used no artificial colors or flavors, and to minimize other potential modernizations of the recipe. This strategy ultimately proved successful, and with a growing revenue, Hebrew National hoped to transform itself into a large conglomerate through acquiring other brands, in order to compete with the food giants that dominated the industry. To this end, in 1986, it changed its name to National Foods and established its non-kosher National Deli brand.
This strategy was less successful, and National Foods was acquired by ConAgra Foods in 1993. The National Deli brand was sold off in 2001.
[edit] Location
The site of Hebrew National's manufacturing plant had been New York City for many years; it moved to Indianapolis, Indiana, in 1989. The Indianapolis plant was closed down in 2004 as operations were consolidated with the ConAgra Foods Armour hot dog plant in Quincy, Michigan.
[edit] Kosher Supervision
For many years, Hebrew National relied on a body within the company to certify its products kosher. Many Orthodox Jews did not feel that Hebrew National's kosher standards were up to those set in place by groups such as the Orthodox Union, Kof-K, and the like, and as such, would not consume Hebrew National beef-based products. (Standards, and opinions, differed for Hebrew National's poultry.)
In the early 2000s, Hebrew National switched to an external certification group, the Triangle K, which was widely seen as an upgrade in its standards of kashrut. (Most Orthodox Jews welcomed the move as a step in the right direction, but still will not consume Hebrew National beef products until the certification is provided by an organization perceived as having higher standards.)
[edit] Products
Hebrew National primarily makes meat products. They are most famous for their hot dogs, but they also make salami, bologna, knockwurst, Polish sausage, and cold cuts. In addition to meat, they make a small number of sausage-related kosher condiments: sauerkraut, pickles and mustard.
[edit] External links
- Hebrew National - Official website
