In 1975, David Merage co-founded Chef America, a national frozen food manufacturer known for inventing and marketing Hot Pockets©, Lean Pockets©, and Croissant Pockets©. At the time of its sale to Nestlé in 2002 for $2.6B, the company had reached $750 million in annual sales, employed 1,800 people, and was growing at a rate of 15% per year, making it one of the most successful food companies in the world.
After the sale of Chef America, David Merage founded Consolidated Investment Group (CIG), a Denver-based investment management company specializing in capital markets, private equity, and commercial real estate.
David Merage is a 2013 Ellis Island Medal of Honor Recipient. He was honored at an elaborate ceremony on May 11, 2013. In recognition of this prestigious honor, Governor John Hickenlooper proclaimed May 11, 2013 as “David Merage Day” in Colorado.