Here’s an exercise: conjure up an image of your family. Think of the particular dynamics, characters, and “idiosyncracies” of your clan.  Next, contemplate your professional world, the company you work for or run, whether it’s a large operation or a one-person show. (Or, these days, maybe you’re just  trying to find work and that’s stressful enough.) Now, put work and family together. Sounds like an explosive cocktail? Welcome to the world of family business!

Family and business are complicated enough to navigate separately, let alone when they operate as one. It is no surprise, therefore, that the fate of most family businesses, especially in the United States, is grim. Less than 40% of family owned businesses survive to the second generation, 12% to the third and only 3% to the fourth.

As a 100 year old, fourth generation family business, we here at Russ & Daughters like to support other multi-generational family businesses. In the coming months, both here on Lox Populi and in the shop, we will be showcasing the products and stories of some other generational family food businesses.  These are excellent products, worthy of taking up precious space on the shelves of Russ & Daughters, with a richness of flavor and integrity of production that comes from each one’s particular tradition. Why are these foods different from all other foods? Because they have history.

- Niki Russ Federman