Future Strauss applications for franchises, infrastructure licenses, or privatizations will face official review regarding effects on market concentration.

Strauss Group inaugurates Michael Campus in Ahihud

(photo credit: Lidor Ohayon)

ByLIAT RON

JULY 13, 2026 15:20

Strauss ranks among Israel's largest food companies. It runs operations across more than 20 countries, employs roughly 15,000 people worldwide, manages 27 production facilities in 22 nations, and conducts about half its business outside Israel. Shares trade on the TA 35 index. Ofra Strauss leads the group while Shai Babad serves as CEO.

The company's growth reached a formal milestone when the Concentration Committee added Strauss Group to the list of centralized entities and significant real corporations. Sales turnover in 2025 exceeded the legal threshold of approximately NIS 7 billion for the first time.

A significant real corporation qualifies as an especially large firm with annual sales above NIS 6 billion, or NIS 2 billion when it holds monopoly status in any market. The Concentration Law aims to limit excessive power held by a few business groups, placing qualifying companies on the centralized list.

The decision arises solely from business scale that meets the criteria under the Concentration Law, without any indication of misconduct or violations.

Going forward, any request by the group for a state franchise or license in essential infrastructure, or participation in government company privatization, requires assessment of impacts on economic concentration along with consultation from the Committee for the Reduction of Concentration. The law also bars such corporations from owning significant financial entities like banks, insurers, or major investment houses.

Ayalon Insurance as well

Strauss Group now joins 91 other business groups on the list, which covers large real corporations, banks, institutional investors, and other entities with broad economic influence. The same update added the Ayalon Investment House group after its managed assets surpassed the legal threshold.

The change follows strong quarterly results. In the first quarter of 2026 the group posted operating profit of NIS 316 million, up 67.9 percent from the prior year. Net profit rose 126.1 percent to NIS 181 million.