Strauss Group Ltd. (Hebrew: שטראוס גרופ בע״מ), formerly known as Strauss-Elite (שטראוס עלית), is among the largest food products manufacturers in Israel. Strauss Group focuses on dairy products, coffee, water, snacks, salads, and dips. Its subsidiary Strauss Coffee is a leading coffee company in Eastern Europe and Brazil.
The Group has 15,000 employees worldwide, is active in more than 20 countries. Strauss has collaborations with Danone, PepsiCo, Haier and Virgin.
Fromenchenko immigrated in 1933 to Israel, bought property in Ramat Gan and opened Elite. Production began in the spring of 1934, with the first product reaching the stores in time for Passover. The most popular brand was Shokolad Para (cow chocolate), whose name came from the image of the cow on the packaging. As the company grew, factories were opened in Safed and Nazareth Illit. In 1958, Elite launched Israel’s first coffee company. Its major competition both for chocolates and coffee was Lieber, which it bought out in March 1970. In 1982, Elite launched its popular “Pesek Zman” line of chocolate bars.
