Near East

Near East® is rooted in a rich history that began with Armenian immigrants George and Hannah Kalajian, who founded the company in 1962 in Worcester, Massachusetts. Initially operating as a small family-owned grocery store, the business took a transformative turn when Hannah started serving her specialty, an Armenian-style rice pilaf, at the store’s luncheonette. The popularity of her pilaf led Hannah to package and sell it directly from her home kitchen, marking the birth of Near East® as a food brand. This homegrown product quickly captured the hearts and palates of locals, prompting a shift to larger production facilities to meet growing demand.

Over the decades, Near East® has expanded its product line to include over 30 different flavors and varieties of rice pilafs, couscous, and other grain dishes, each developed with a focus on authenticity and culinary innovation. The company prides itself on using high-quality ingredients, authentic herbs, and spices, and continuing the tradition of simple, recognizable foods that Hannah started. Near East® products, most of which are Certified Kosher, symbolize a commitment to providing consumers with delicious, easy-to-prepare meals that bring a taste of international cuisine into their homes. Today, Near East® is a nationally recognized brand available in supermarkets and specialty stores across the country, still driven by its original mission to offer superior quality and taste.