Jeff Weinstein, CEO, Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen

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Jeff Weinstein grew up in the Detroit Metro area with a big extended family. His earliest work experience started at 13, answering phones and doing clerical work during tax season for the accounting firm where his father was a partner. He gained his first leadership experience as a founding member, chapter president and regional vice president of B’nai B’rith Youth Organization in Michigan.

He has over 30 years of experience in the food and beverage business, beginning with full service restaurant and cafe work while he studied Philosophy at the University of Michigan. His knowledge of the business comes from working on the job.

Jeff spent 12 years with Peet’s Coffee & Tea in the San Francisco Bay Area where he played every role they would allow him, from serving coffee, managing a store, running a district, building an operations services department and creating wholesale programs.

After time with Dean & Deluca and Starbucks—both great learning opportunities—he joined Jamba Juice where he led operations services for over 800 domestic and international locations. In 2015, Jamba sold most of their corporate units to franchisees. Jeff led operations for Vitaligent—Jamba’s largest franchisee with shops in Northern California and Washington—and eventually became CEO of the 96-unit restaurant group.

In 2022, Vitaligent was successfully acquired by an even larger restaurant group called Sizzling Platter. After supporting the transition, Jeff joined Wise Sons Jewish Delicatessen as CEO. Wise Sons operates six delis in San Francisco and Oakland, in addition to a scratch bakery, commissary and wholesale business.

Following the recent college graduation of their daughter, Jeff and his wife of 30 years moved to the Sonoma Valley where they serve multiple non-profit organizations.