Charles Entenmann, who helped expand family’s bakery, dies

Category: Education/Family

Listening

Unlocking Word Meanings

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article.

  1. immigrant / ˈɪm ɪ grənt / (n.) – a person who moves to a foreign country to live there permanently
    Example:

    My mother was an immigrant from Vietnam who came to the US in the 1980s.


  2. pioneer / ˌpaɪ əˈnɪr / (v.) – to be the first to do something
    Example:

    The automobile company pioneered the development of self-driving cars.


  3. lure / lʊər / (v.) – to attract someone to do something by offering something pleasing or satisfying
    Example:

    The shop owner gives free product samples to lure potential customers.


  4. cold fusion / koʊld ˈfyu ʒən / (n.) – a nuclear reaction at room temperature
    Example:

    More scientists are conducting research on cold fusion.


  5. devotee / ˌdɛv əˈti / (n.) – a loyal supporter of someone or something
    Example:

    Devotees of the popular baseball team lined up early to get tickets for the championship game.


Article

Read the text below.

Charles Edward Entenmann, who helped turn his family’s New York-based bakery into a national brand, died in Florida at age 92.


Entenmann died Feb. 24 in Hialeah, his son, Charles William Entenmann, told Newsday.


Charles E. Entenmann was a grandson of William Entenmann, a German immigrant who founded a bakery in Brooklyn in 1898, delivering baked goods door to door.


The business moved to Bay Shore on Long Island, and the founder’s son, William Entenmann Jr., took over. William Jr.’s wife and three sons inherited the bakery after his death in 1951.


According to Newsday, Charles Entenmann focused on engineering and technical aspects of Entenmann’s, while his brother Robert specialized in sales and his brother William concentrated on baking.


The new generation of Entenmanns began delivering to supermarkets and pioneered the use of “see-through” cake boxes to lure shoppers.


After expanding Entenmann’s nationally in the 1970s, the family sold the business to pharmaceutical company Warner-Lambert. The brand has been sold several times since then and is now owned by Bimbo Bakeries USA.


Charles Entenmann, known as Charlie, moved to Florida in the 1980s and founded Biolife LLC, which created technology to help seal wounds, his son said. He also supported and conducted research on cold fusion.


“Nobody knows how he got so smart. He never went to school,” his son said. “I don’t think he ever forgot anything he read.”


While Entenmann’s cakes and pastries have tempted generations of Americans to break their diets, Charlie Entenmann was not among the devotees, his son said.


“I’m going to tell you something that’s been pretty much a secret, most of my life anyway,” his son told Newsday. “He didn’t eat Entenmann’s cake … He just wasn’t a dessert guy.”


This article was provided by The Associated Press.


Viewpoint Discussion

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.

Discussion A

  • Entenmann’s has been sold several times and is now owned by Bimbo Bakeries USA. Do you think it was a good idea for the original owners to sell the business? Why or why not? Discuss.
  • Charlie didn’t eat Entenmann’s cakes and wasn’t a devotee of its products. In your opinion, is it important for business owners to be consumers of their products? Why or why not? Discuss.

Discussion B

  • William Jr.’s wife and three sons inherited the bakery after his death. If you were to become a business owner, would you rather inherit a business or start from scratch? Why? Discuss.
  • Charlie Entenmann never went to school, but he still became successful. Why do you think some people become successful despite not having formal education (ex. they’re talented, they have good business skills)? Discuss.