Art Ginsburg, Aka Mr Food, Has Built An Empire

The Miami Herald:

He is known as Mr. Food, the jovial, All-American kitchen sweetheart who dispenses lessons on how to master mashed potatoes or whip up a spinach omelet with ease.

Art Ginsburg, aka Mr Food, has quietly built a tidy empire in the food business. Over the past 2 decades, Ginsburg Enterprises‘ annual revenue, which initially was derived from 90-second television cooking spots and cookbook royalties, has grown from $830,000 to nearly $15 million this year.

And the Fort Lauderdale-based company has managed to stay afloat for 2 decades in a changing media market rife with colorful foodie personalities from Emeril Lagasse to Rachael Ray and Paula Deen.

At this point, Ginsburg is garnishing his media empire – already stacked high with TV and radio broadcasts, licensing for Mr. Food Cookware and product endorsement deals, and book contracts – with a franchise concept called ‘no-fuss Meals.’

The no-fuss idea is an extension of Ginsburg’s on-air trademark: Convenient meals that ‘anybody can do.’ Customers assemble their own no-fuss Meals at stores, using prepared ingredients and following printed directions.

Full story.