Newman's Own

Newman's Own

Company type	Private
Industry	Food
Founded	1982
Founder	Paul Newman, A. E. Hotchner
Headquarters	Westport , United States
Area served	United States
Key people	Alex Amouyel (President and CEO, Newman's Own Foundation)
Products	Salad dressing, spaghetti sauce, lemonade, popcorn, fruit juices, frozen pizza, salsa, grape juice, premium wines
Owner	Private
Website	newmansown.com

Newman's Own is a U.S.-based food enterprise located in Westport, Connecticut. Established in 1982 by actor Paul Newman alongside writer A. E. Hotchner, the organization channels all post-tax earnings to charitable causes via the Newman's Own Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to programs benefiting children.

History

The company originated from a homemade salad dressing that Newman and Hotchner initially distributed as gifts. Encouraged by favorable feedback, they commercialized the product, each contributing $20,000 as initial capital. Over time, the assortment grew to encompass spaghetti sauce, lemonade, popcorn, fruit juices, frozen pizza, salsa, grape juice, and in 2008, a line of premium wines. Every product label displays a whimsical illustration of Newman dressed to match the item.

In 1993, Newman's daughter Nell Newman launched Newman's Own Organics, a branch focused on organic items such as chocolate, cookies, pretzels, and pet food. This division became an independent company in 2001 but was reintegrated into Newman's Own in 2014 following the expiration of its licensing agreement.

In 2003, Newman and Hotchner co-wrote a memoir recounting the company's history and its philanthropic camps. After Newman's passing in 2008, CEO Robert Forrester assumed leadership of both the company and its foundation, overseeing expansion and diversification efforts. Despite internal family disputes regarding management, Forrester affirmed that operations remained aligned with Newman's intentions. His compensation increased from $185,000 in 2010 to $295,000 by 2013. Forrester was removed from his position in 2019 amid misconduct allegations; Jennifer Smith Turner acted as interim CEO until Dr. Miriam Nelson was appointed in 2020. As of April 2023, Alex Amouyel serves as President and CEO of Newman's Own Foundation.

Charitable funding and beneficiaries

Since its inception in 1982, Newman's Own has contributed over $600 million to charitable causes. In 2016 alone, it donated $30 million derived from $600 million in gross revenue. The company also co-established the PEN/Newman's Own First Amendment Award, recognizing individuals who defend freedom of expression through writing.

A comprehensive list of grant recipients is available on the Newman's Own Foundation website, outlining supported sectors. A prominent beneficiary is the SeriousFun Children's Network, co-founded by Newman in 1988 to offer complimentary camp experiences for seriously ill children worldwide; this network has served more than 1.5 million participants across five continents. While Newman's Own initially financed the inaugural camp, the network currently draws from multiple funding sources. The Foundation further supports groups such as The MINDS Foundation, active in rural India.

Additional beneficiaries include The New York Times Neediest Cases Fund, Shining Hope for Communities, Safe Water Network, Edible Schoolyard NYC, Fisher House Foundation, the WILD Young Women Programme (New Zealand), and Pilgrims Hospices (UK). Moreover, Newman's Own has promoted philanthropic education at institutions like Marist University, where Raymond A. Lamontagne was appointed as the first Paul Newman Senior Fellow in Philanthropy.

External links

• Newman's Own Foundation