Kenneth F. Froelich, former owner of Frito-Lay Hawai'i, dead at 89
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
Kenneth F. Froelich, former owner and president of Frito-Lay Hawai'i, died Sept. 6 in Newport Beach, Calif. He was 89.
Froelich was born Aug. 6, 1913, in Akron, Ohio. He graduated from high school during the Depression and could not afford to go to college. Instead, he worked as a clerk in the Canton Fire Department and a few years later began his career in the food industry by joining the Halter Pretzel Co. In 1959, he was named president of the firm, which later became part of the Rold Gold Food Division of Frito-Lay Co.
Kenneth Froelich was active in the community and had a hand in educational programs.
In 1961, Froelich went to work for Rold Gold in St. Louis and became its president two years later. In his eight years as the CEO, the division's sales quadrupled.
Looking for a challenge, Froelich moved to Hawai'i and purchased the Frito-Lay franchise in 1969.
In 1985, Frito-Lay established a program that rewarded public schools with cash for showing improvement in test scores, attendance and campus appearance. Froelich also had a hand in educational programs as president of the Hawai'i Rotary Youth Foundation and Junior Achievement. He was president of the Pacific Aero Space Museum and the Honolulu Rotary Club, a Bank of Hawai'i director and 1985-86 chairman of the Chamber of Commerce of Hawai'i. In 1982, he was named Hawai'i and Western Regional Small Business Person of the Year. In addition to his association with Frito-Lay, Froelich founded Sunshine Distributing Co. and Pacific Rim Trading Co. in 1972.
Froelich retired in 1989 and sold Frito-Lay Hawai'i back to the parent company.
A memorial service will be held at 6:30 p.m. Friday at Central Union Church. Donations may be made to the Rotary Foundation or the Central Union Church building fund.
