Our Story
A healthy history: The Story Behind Dr. Praeger’s
It all started in 1994 when successful New Jersey cardiac surgeon Dr. Peter Praeger and his medical partner, Dr. Eric Somberg, helped keep a family business alive. They bought Ungar’s Gefilte Fish – a popular food company within the Jewish and Yiddish communities. The doctors set out on a simple mission – to help people see nutritious food in a new light. They expanded the company to include all-natural and sensible products that would appeal to a wider consumer base. They kept the Ungar’s brand, which includes the original gefilte fish and other traditional Jewish foods, and developed Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods, which now includes dozens of all-natural, kosher frozen foods.
Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods was born and soon became a family affair, with Dr. Praeger’s children – Larry and Danielle, and his nephew Jeffrey - working for the company. Dr. Somberg’s wife, Ellen, and son, Adam also play an integral role in the company. The families now run the business out of a 60,000-square-foot manufacturing facility in Elmwood Park, NJ, with 70 employees who feel like family members, too.
You’ll find Dr. Praeger’s in the frozen food section of supermarkets and other retailers including Trader Joe’s, Costco, Whole Foods and others. Keep an eye out for us at your local market – we’re expanding!
Tasting is believing.
Dr. Praeger’s philosophy is that good-for-you food should actually taste good, especially if you don’t let artificial ingredients, colors and fillers get in the way. That’s why our products are made with ingredients you recognize, including flash-frozen vegetables and fish from cold Northern waters. Our hearty California Veggie Burger doesn’t conceal its tasty spinach, broccoli, peas, carrots and onions – it puts them right where you can see and taste them! And our gluten-free options are an easy way to keep wheat out of your diet, while keeping the good things in, like fiber and taste bud-pleasing flavor.
Like having a farm in your freezer.
You could spend hours in your kitchen shredding potatoes, chopping broccoli, breading fish and boiling sweet potatoes. Or, you could just open your freezer, take out a favorite from Dr. Praeger’s, and enjoy the same all-natural food in a fraction of the time, at an affordable price that’s probably less than assembling all of the ingredients yourself.
To your health.
Our customers make us what we are. We feed them, and they feed us with rave reviews and success stories. Some of them are surprised by how quickly our Sensible Foods have become family staples. Some are amazed that healthy food can taste so good. Some just want to know how we do it. All we can say is that we do it with love, and that we hope our products help you live a long, healthy and happy life.