Minister of Industry & Trade (Labor) Binyamin Ben-Eliezer on Sunday attended a conference sponsored by HaMevaser addressing the ‘leaders’ in the chareidi community.

Dozens of leading entrepreneurs, heads of businesses, MKs, ministers, and public officials attended the annual event held on the grounds of Graphoprint in Tel Yitzchak, the place where the newspaper is printed. The event was used to rate the top 100 companies serving the chareidi community. The event marks one year since the establishment of the newspaper.

Among the speakers was Minister Ben-Eliezer, who addressed the significant role the chareidi community plays in the state, stating the chareidim compose “one of the largest, perceptive, important communities in the country”.

The minister went on to describe the community as “fervent, diligent and committed, a community that knows how to integrate the holy and the mundane. We must do everything to invest in this unique community”.

Ben-Eliezer added that he cannot ignore the sharp difference in average income among chareidi families and non-chareidi families, with the former averaging NIS 6,100, about 50% less than the latter. He wishes to work to expand the number of chareidim in the workplace towards expanding industry suitable to the chareidi world and thereby increasing the income of the greater community.

He cited some statistics, that employment among chareidi women stands at 49% and men 37% as compared to the general population, which records employment among women at 69% and men 75%. The minister added that there is already a growing trend, a growing number of chareidim in the workplace and he wishes to assist to further increase the numbers.

Ben-Eliezer explained his ministry is working towards achieving this goal with perks, training and programs that are tailored the needs of the chareidi community.

The newspaper’s staff conducted a survey of the chareidi community, assisted by professionals, seeking to obtain an accurate picture of which firms indeed influence the chareidi community.

Interestingly, the mainstream secular media was present in noticeable numbers, wishing to provide coverage of this newsworthy event, perhaps testimony to the significant impact the chareidi community has on many aspects of Israeli life, including its shopping power, a community that Baruch Hashem feeds large families that continue to grow.

A special insert booklet appears in Monday’s HaMevaser, containing an in-depth report from the survey, which was conducted during recent months, questioning 538 chareidi families.

Following are some of the facts that are presented as a result of the survey.

Where do chareidim maintain their primary bank account?

International Bank/Poalei Agudat Yisrael – 25%
Mercantile – 21%
Hapoalim – 15%
Mizrachi – Tefahot – 14%
Leumi – 10%
Postal Bank – 4%
Others – 12%

Mortgage Bank

Mizrachi-Tefahot – 33%
Bank Jerusalem – 22%
International Bank – 11%
Discount/Mercantile – 8%
Hapoalim – 6%
Leumi – 6%
Others – 13%

What brand of dairy products is purchased?
Tnuva
81% [first choice]
20% [second choice]

Strauss
16%
57%

Tara
3%
21%
 

What brand of snacks and food items?
Osem
68% [first choice]
18% [second choice]

Taaman
18%
35%

Elite – Megadim
5%
22%

Vered HaGalil
2%
9%

B&D
2%
4%

Telma
2%

Nestle
1%
3%

Others
4%
8%

 
What brand of soft drinks?
Coca Cola
36%
13%

Tempo
15%
11%

Mei Eden
11%
6%

 
Yapura
9%
10%

 
Neviot
4%
5%
RC
8%

Super Drink
8%

 
Prigat
6%

Other
26%
13%

 
What brand of salads (humus, Tehina and so-forth)?
Miki
49%
20%

Tzabar
14%
15%

 
Strauss
13%
19%

 
Eldag
8%
17%

 
Homemade
8%

 
Other
11%
20%

 
Frozen Foods
Zoglobek
57%
36%

Tivol
33%
32%

Other
10%
14%

 
Wines
Carmel
32%
20%

Arza Winery
18%
9%

Ramhag Winery
11%
6%

 
Hebron Winery
7%
5%

 
Galil Winery
2%
2%

 
Tzion Winery
2%

Other
28%
32%

 
Cleaning Products (showing top two only)
Sano
58%
17%
 

Ariel

22%
28%

Pots and house ware products (showing top two only)
Sultam
60%
21%

 
Keter
24%
27%

 
Diapers (top three only)
Huggies
49%
17%
 

Titulim

17%
16%
 

Pampers
14%
16%

Phone communications provider
Bezeq – 82%
077 – 12%
012 – 4%
013 – 2%
Other – 1%
 

International phone carrier
018 – 34%
012- 28%
013 – 23%
014 – 14%
 

Cellular telephone provider
Cellcom – 43%
Pelephone – 20%
MIRS – 21%
Orange – 16%
 

Kupat Cholim (HMO)
Meuchedet – 40%
Leumit – 22%
Maccabi – 20%
Clalit – 18%

 
How much of an effort do you make to support a shomer shabbos store?
82% rate this an 8-10 (on scale of importance with 10 being the highest)
15% – 5-7
3% – 1-4

The survey continues, covering many other aspects of our daily lives, including communications connectivity (internet), gas station, silver products, and more.

The leading firms in the chareidi sector are:

Tnuva, Osem, Yesh,

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)