Jeno Paulucci

Luigino "Jeno" Francesco Paulucci (August 5, 1918 – November 24, 2011) was an American businessman and entrepreneur. Paulucci started over 70 companies; among the most well-known ventures included his frozen food company, Bellisio Foods, and food products such as Pizza Rolls and the Chun King line of Chinese food. He was also involved in charity work, publishing and public speaking.

A self-described "peddler from the Iron Range", Paulucci was born in the mining town Aurora, Minnesota. Paulucci's parents, Ettore and Michelina, had recently moved from Bellisio Solfare, hamlet of Pergola (Marche) Italy and his father was a miner in one of the region's iron mines. He began his long career in the grocery industry while working for his family's small grocery store during the Great Depression. On February 8, 1947, Paulucci married Lois Mae Trepanier. They had three children together.

During the 1940s, Paulucci developed the Chun King line of canned Chinese food products. In the book "The Very, Very Rich, and how they got that way" Paulucci was quoted as stating his motivation that, while he loved Chinese food, he found it too bland and thought it would benefit from a little Italian spicing. After making a batch and canning it, he took some samples to a supermarket executive to convince him to try it out, and to persuade him to stock it. On opening the can, Paulucci found, to his horror, that the top of the can's contents included a whole, cooked grasshopper. Fortunately, the can had been opened in such a way that the lid was facing the executive, so that only Paulucci could see the contents. Thinking quickly, Paulucci told the executive, "This looks so good, I'm going to taste it myself". He then took one of two spoons that were lying on the table, reached into the can, quickly dug out a heaping spoonful (which included the grasshopper) and ate it. (According to Paulucci, "It didn't taste bad." Roasted or deep-fried grasshoppers are a popular street snack in Mexico City.) He then offered the can to the executive, who sampled a separate spoonful, liked it, and placed a large order.

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