Vincent DeDomenico Biography

Inventor of Rice-A-Roni, one of the classic kitchen helpers of the 1960s. He and his brothers were born to Italian immigrants in San Francisco and together invented their signature product in 1958. Rice-A-Roni transformed the family company, Golden Grain Macaroni Company, which was started by Vincent DeDomenico’s father. Vincent joined the family business and eventually became president. In 1964, Golden Grain bought another famous and historic San Francisco company, the Ghirardelli Chocolate Company. He sold the Gold Grain to Quaker Oats for $275 million in 1986.