As part of the celebrations marking 70 years to Israel's founding, the Manufacturers Association of Israel formed a special committee to select ten leading manufacturers to win the industry award as well as a lifetime achievement award.
SodaStream CEO Daniel Birnbaum was one of the winners selected by the committee for having transformed the small company, purchased 10 years ago for $6 million, into a what the committee called a "huge international success now famous around the world."
The news came ahead of PepsiCo's announcement it would acquire Israeli home soda-machine manufacturer SodaStream.
In a statement, the Manufacturers Association of Israel noted that "alongside the business success and innovative marketing, Daniel became famous for being a human and warm manager who maintains direct contact with his employees, who come from different backgrounds, religions and nationalities. Israelis, Jews and new immigrants, many hundreds [of workers] from the Bedouin sector and even employees from the Palestinian Authority all work together, shoulder to shoulder, in coexistence and peace."
In addition to Birnbaum, Ben & Jerry's Israel CEO Avi Zinger, CEO of security barrier manufacturer Trellidor Henry Zimmerman, CEO of micro-irrigation firm Netafim Ran Maidan and the president of strategic partnerships at technological manufacturer Flextronics Ruvi Shaibel, were also awarded the 2018 industry award.
Winners of the lifetime achievement award included recycling firm Alon Group CEO Rafael Allon; concrete casting firm Wolfman Industries CEO Daniel Wolfman; Ran Tuttnauer, the CEO of investment firm Tuttnauer Co. Ltd.; the chairman and owner of steel manufacturer Hod Assaf Industries Ltd. Abraham Shani; and industrial project management company Pach Taas Group CEO and founder Aharon Shapira.
Manufacturers Association of Israel President Shraga Brosh said it was "thanks to these dear people that we have here an advanced and modern industry."
Winners will be presented with their award at a ceremony to be held at the David Intercontinental hotel in Tel Aviv on Nov. 8 that will be attended by President Reuven Rivlin and Brosh.
