About Us

The Schreiber Legacy

Behind the Schreiber Foods International name is the Schreiber family: generations of entrepreneurs passionate about the power of connecting people and businesses through food. The Schreiber family legacy includes the distributors, chefs, suppliers, partners, and employees at the heart of the company.

Three generations of Schreibers. From left to right: Tricia Schreiber, current Chief Commercial Officer Emily Schreiber as a toddler, Co-Founder Howard Schreiber, and Co-Founders Helen and Norman Schreiber.

See more
Five members of the Schreiber family at a company gathering in the early 1990s

The three generations of Schreibers behind Schreiber Foods International

Co-Founders Norman and Helen Schreiber, photographed together
The First Generation Norman and Helen Schreiber
Founded 1980
Co-Founder Howard Schreiber and Chief Commercial Officer Emily Schreiber at a food trade fair in Cologne
The Next Two Generations Emily and Howard Schreiber

Our History

Nearly a century in food

Three generations of one family, from a brothers’ distribution business to the importer that stocks professional kitchens across the country.

  1. 1940s

    The Schreiber Brothers Era

    Under the company name the Schreiber Brothers, the Schreiber family begins distributing popular products such as coffee and gelatin. After the end of WWII, the foodservice industry booms.

    A Schreiber Bros. delivery truck, lettered with the Ambrosia brand, in Hoboken, New Jersey.

  2. 1950s

    Schreiber Brothers Expands

    Schreiber Brothers expands with a growing number of SKUs and a growing list of customers.

    September 1953 customer announcement for Schreiber Brothers’ new, larger offices.

  3. 1950s

    “Ambrosia” Brand Name Becomes Part of the Company

    Helen Schreiber chooses the name “Ambrosia” for the growing list of Schreiber Brothers products, because it means “food of the gods” in Greek.

    Ambrosia Hearts of Artichoke, and the cornucopia mark the brand carried for decades.

  4. 1958

    Norman Schreiber Co-Founds Food Distribution Cooperative

    Norman Schreiber becomes a co-founder of NIFDA: The National Institutional Food Distributor Associates, Inc. (originally called Southeastern Institutional Food Distributor Associates). Norman and other independent, regional food distributors banded together to create a national food cooperative to support independent distribution, share buying power, and create a trusted national white label brand.

    The NIFDA label — the national white label brand the cooperative created.

  5. 1960s and 1970s

    The Second Generation Begins to Take Shape

    A young Howard Schreiber becomes interested in the family business in the 1960s. Schreiber Brothers is sold to Ritter Foods in 1970, and Howard joins his father Norman in another food company right out of college in 1976. Working together, they saw opportunities to improve the shelf-stable foods supply chain, and the idea for a new company began to form…

    The Schreiber Brothers, Frank (l) and Norman (r) with their families, including Howard Schreiber.

  6. 1980

    Schreiber Foods International is Founded!

    Entrepreneurs and problem solvers at heart, Norman and Howard Schreiber, with the collaboration of Helen Schreiber, found Schreiber Foods International to streamline shelf-stable food distribution and bring high-quality products and global flavors to foodservice kitchens.

    Announcing the new company to customers, May 1, 1980.

  7. 1980s

    The Schreibers Establish a New Standard in Food Importing and Distribution

    The Schreibers decided on day one to create a customer-centric company with stringent sourcing, a focus on food safety, expertise in logistics and supply chain expertise, solutions for customers, and unparalleled customer service.

    Norman Schreiber personally inspects a pepper crop, in line with stringent sourcing standards.

  8. 1980s

    Schreiber Foods International Develops its Supplier Network

    Schreiber Foods International focused on building its comprehensive network of suppliers capable of meeting the company’s rigorous quality and delivery standards. Its first international product was pineapples, and the list of SKUs grew to 250+ over the years.

    The company’s first international product.

  9. 1980s

    Ambrosia Brand Grows

    Since the Ambrosia brand had been part of the Schreiber family of companies since the 1950s, it became the natural choice for the new company, and a favorite among professional chefs in foodservice kitchens.

    Ambrosia gains increased distribution.

  10. 1980s

    The Company Expands through Distributor Partners

    Schreiber Foods International developed relationships with regional distributors early on, gaining traction with a wide group of distributors in what was a then highly fragmented space.

    In 1985, after a public warehouse with inventory burned to the ground, Schreiber Foods International purchased inventory from competitors to ensure all of its orders were filled. Distributors recognized the true value of a partnership with the company.

    Schreiber Foods International builds its distributor network and becomes known for its supply chain efficiency.

  11. 1990s

    Schreiber Foods International Adapts and Grows

    Schreiber Foods International pivots amidst industry consolidation, expanding its reach and presence in national chain restaurants as well as high-end professional kitchens through its distributor partners.

    The invitation to the new office, December 1997.

  12. 2000

    Michael Braun Joins the Company

    Michael Braun, current Chief Operating Officer, joins the company, beginning 26 years of leadership.

    Michael Braun, Chief Operating Officer.

  13. 2000s

    Schreiber Foods International Expands its Family of Brands

    For flexibility and variety, the company distributes other well-known brands in addition to Ambrosia, including Esprit de Paris and Honey Pot mustards.

  14. 2004

    Schreiber Foods International Opens its First Wholly-Owned Warehouse, Evily Atlantic

    Opened the first wholly-owned warehouse, Evily Atlantic, in New Jersey.

    The warehouse was named after Co-Founder Howard Schreiber's children: EVan and emILY = Evily.

    Employees celebrating the opening, including Howard Schreiber (second from left) and Michael Braun (center).
    From left: Emily Schreiber, Ryan Leach, Connor Leach and Evan Schreiber.

  15. 2004

    Emily Schreiber Contributes a Marketing Campaign

    Already committed to the family business, Emily Schreiber contributes a logo and marketing campaign for the warehouse.

    Emily Schreiber’s logo and tagline idea for Schreiber Foods International’s new warehouse.

  16. 2009 – 2015

    Schreiber Foods International Makes a Series of Strategic Acquisitions

    Schreiber Foods International grew through a series of acquisitions, including Bascom Corporation, Berns & Koppstein, and Golden Sea Five Star. The company’s international trade show footprint grows.

    The Ambrosia booth, with the line set out for buyers.

  17. 2015

    The Second Wholly-Owned Warehouse, Evily Pacific, Opens in California

    Schreiber Foods International opens the Evily Pacific Warehouse in California, expanding the company’s distribution footprint even further.

    Schreiber Foods International’s new wholly-owned Evily Pacific Warehouse in California.

  18. 2015

    Ambrosia Rebrands and Expands

    The Ambrosia Brand gets a fresh makeover and label redesign.

    The Ambrosia line before the 2015 redesign, and the logo as it looks today.

  19. 2016

    The Third Generation Begins — Emily Joins the Company

    Emily Schreiber, current Chief Commercial Officer, comes aboard in an import role before continuing her education and then rejoining the company full-time in 2022.

    Emily Schreiber, Chief Commercial Officer.

  20. 2020

    Schreiber Foods International Lives Up to its Community Values

    During the COVID-19 pandemic, Schreiber Foods International’s customers were hard hit. True to the relationship-based sales approach, the company worked with its distributors and end customers to support their businesses through the shutdowns, and true to its community focus, donated much-needed food to local organizations.

    Ambrosia product donations.

  21. 2026

    Schreiber Foods International Names a New CEO Council

    Schreiber Foods International names a new CEO Council to continue its legacy and lead the company into the next generation.

    The CEO Council — the Chief Commercial Officer, the Chief Financial Officer and the Chief Operating Officer.

  22. 2027 and beyond

    Schreiber Foods International continues to honor its history while expanding its global distribution network and connecting people through food.