Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 21, 1990 TAG: 9003232504
SECTION: BUSINESS PAGE: B5 EDITION: EVENING
SOURCE: Los Angeles Times
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
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.
Manischewitz officials denied the charge and said in a written statement Tuesday that the company will "vigorously defend" itself.
The Newark, N.J., grand jury charged in the indictment, which was filed Monday, that the matzo maker conspired to fix prices from 1981 through at least April 1986. The Jersey City, N.J., firm and other kosher food companies have been under investigation for more than two years. The investigation is continuing, said Joe Krovisky, a Department of Justice spokesman.
"During the period of time covered by this indictment, the defendant and co-conspirators were the major manufacturers of Kosher for Passover matzo products in the United States," the indictment said. "Their customers were primarily distributors of kosher food products who sold to supermarket chains and independent grocery stores."
According to the indictment, Manischewitz and its co-conspirators sold about $25 million worth of special matzo - a flat, unleavened bread - during the course of the alleged Passover plot.
What makes Passover matzo different from all others is that, during preparation, Jewish employees carefully remove a small piece of dough from each batch to be burned as a symbol of offerings made at temples in ancient times.
Manischewitz was founded in 1888 in Cincinnati, then a center of Jewish culture.
by CNB