Robert E. Rich Sr.

Robert E. Rich Sr. (July 7, 1913 – February 15, 2006)[1] was a food processing pioneer and executive. During World War II, he invented the first non-dairy whipped topping made from soybeans that could be frozen.[2][3]

Born in Buffalo, New York, he founded Rich Products in 1945, which had sales of $2.5 billion on more than 2,300 products in 2005,[1] the year before he died at age 92 in Palm Beach, Florida. His son, Robert Jr., inherited the company and is the owner of the Buffalo Bisons minor league baseball team.

  1. ^ a b Melanie Warner (February 17, 2006). "Robert Rich, Maker of Nondairy Whipped Topping, Is Dead at 92". The New York Times.
  2. ^ Germain, David (June 11, 1995). "Rich has one cold foot in past, other in future". Times Daily. Florence, AL. Associated Press. p. 5D.
  3. ^ "Obituaries: Robert E. Rich Sr". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. February 17, 2006. p. 10B.