Louis Rich (Louis Rich)

Louis Rich

Businessman. He immigrated to America from Russia, arriving as a steerage passenger in 1906. Working as a Kosher butcher, he saved enough money to gradually bring his family to America, and open his own business. In 1921, he bought a truck and started the Rock Island Produce Company, in Rock Island, Illinois. His business sold chicken and eggs which he bought daily from area farmers. In the early 1940’s, chicken farms started moving to the south, and the new supermarkets were buying their eggs from major suppliers.  Louis looked for a way to stay in business.  In 1943, he bought a former tomato-processing factory in West Libery, Iowa, and converted it to a chicken slaughter facility.  He then had the idea that turkey could be an anytime food, just like chicken.  In 1949, his sons, Martin and Norman, refocused the company to produce turkey products.  In 1960, the company was renamed Louis Rich Foods, and was purchased by Oscar Mayer.  Today, Kraft Foods North America still produces and markets turkey products under the Louis Rich name, including various lunch meats and turkey bacon. (bio by: Dustin Oliver)  Family links:  Spouse:  Ida Fox Rich (1899 – 1971)* *Calculated relationship

Born

  • April, 27, 1896
  • Russia

Died

  • November, 11, 1970
  • USA

Cemetery

  • Hebrew Cemetery
  • Illinois
  • USA

2147 profile views