B Manischewitz Co

Four months before the holiday, the Passover season has already begun at Manischewitz, the 118-year-old brand known around the world for matzo, gefilte fish, chicken soup and sweet wine. But as its matzo factory annually churns out 75.6 million sheets of unleavened bread in 14 flavors for its core Jewish customers, company leaders are creating a new strategy: turning a staid brand into a more contemporary, perhaps even trendy, one.

Manischewitz Co. Sued: A consumers' class action filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court accuses the B. Manischewitz Co. of fixing prices of its kosher matzo products. The suit claims that Manischewitz and unidentified "co-conspirators" prevented competition by limiting production and agreeing to increase prices of "Kosher for Passover" matzo products.

After twice receiving extra time to evaluate its proposed purchase of B. Manischewitz Co., Levine, Tessler, Leichtman & Co. said Monday that it will not proceed with the $44.6-million acquisition of the kosher food maker. From its Jersey City, N.J., offices, Manischewitz accused the Beverly Hills-based investment firm of dragging its feet on the deal and said it will not submit Levine's $841-per-share offer to shareholders for a vote.

Matzo maker B. Manischewitz Co. said Thursday that it has agreed to a sweetened takeover bid by a Beverly Hills investment firm that topped a "best and final" offer from a rival kosher products firm. Manischewitz late Wednesday accepted an offer of $841 a share, or $44.6 million, by Levine, Tessler, Leichtman & Co. That bid surpassed by $1 a share an enhanced offer by National Foods, the distributor of Hebrew National products. Last month, Jersey City, N.J.

B. Manischewitz Co., a New Jersey maker of matzo and other kosher food products, said Tuesday that it has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle claims by a Beverly Hills investment firm relating to an aborted, $44.6-million buyout effort. Manischewitz also officially took itself off the sale block, saying it had informed Shearson Lehman Hutton, its investment bank, that it was "no longer interested in acquisition proposals." Under terms of the settlement, Levine, Tessler, Leichtman & Co.

So, you think Coke and Pepsi are enemies? They're friends next to Manischewitz and Kedem, contenders in the growing kosher wine war that has erupted with new fury in the days before Passover. The first attack was launched by Kedem Royal Wine Corp. in a new advertising and promotional campaign for concord kosher wine, the sweet syrupy stuff served at many Seders.

Manischewitz Co. Sued: A consumers' class action filed Tuesday in Los Angeles Superior Court accuses the B. Manischewitz Co. of fixing prices of its kosher matzo products. The suit claims that Manischewitz and unidentified "co-conspirators" prevented competition by limiting production and agreeing to increase prices of "Kosher for Passover" matzo products.

The B. Manischewitz Co., one of the nation's leading kosher food manufacturers, was indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring to fix wholesale prices in the U.S. matzo market, Department of Justice officials said Tuesday. The one-count indictment alleges that Manischewitz and a group of unnamed co-conspirators illegally agreed to increase the price of "Kosher for Passover" matzo products for at least five years.

B. Manischewitz Co., a New Jersey maker of matzo and other kosher food products, said Tuesday that it has agreed to pay $1.5 million to settle claims by a Beverly Hills investment firm relating to an aborted, $44.6-million buyout effort. Manischewitz also officially took itself off the sale block, saying it had informed Shearson Lehman Hutton, its investment bank, that it was "no longer interested in acquisition proposals." Under terms of the settlement, Levine, Tessler, Leichtman & Co.

The B. Manischewitz Co., one of the nation's leading kosher food manufacturers, was indicted by a federal grand jury for conspiring to fix wholesale prices in the U.S. matzo market, Department of Justice officials said Tuesday. The one-count indictment alleges that Manischewitz and a group of unnamed co-conspirators illegally agreed to increase the price of "Kosher for Passover" matzo products for at least five years.

B. Manischewitz Co., a leading matzo maker, has agreed to be acquired by the Los Angeles investment firm of Levine, Tessler, Leichtman & Co. Arthur E. Levine said Thursday that his firm agreed to pay $40.5 million, or $762.75 a share, for the Jersey City, N.J., company. Besides matzot, the firm produces other kosher baked goods and soups, and licenses its name to a wine maker.

After twice receiving extra time to evaluate its proposed purchase of B. Manischewitz Co., Levine, Tessler, Leichtman & Co. said Monday that it will not proceed with the $44.6-million acquisition of the kosher food maker. From its Jersey City, N.J., offices, Manischewitz accused the Beverly Hills-based investment firm of dragging its feet on the deal and said it will not submit Levine's $841-per-share offer to shareholders for a vote.