In 1949, Maurice and Bess Cohn of Iowa entered the industry as distributors. Four years later, they decided to become food gift suppliers instead, growing into the industry's largest supplier. In 1962, their 29-year-old son Norman encouraged them to buy ASI.

The Cohns soon sold their supplier business to focus on ASI and unifying the distributor and supplier network. Norman and his wife Suzanne relocated their family to Philadelphia to run the company and all five of their children, as they became old enough, worked at ASI, contributing to the success of the company and industry.

Now, a fourth generation waits in the wings, interning at ASI when they're old enough and learning the business they may someday join.