Charles Roser

Charles Martin Roser (November 16, 1864 – April 12, 1937), also known as C. M. Roser, was an Ohio food maker, Florida real estate developer and philanthropist. He was born in Elyria, Ohio and died in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Early career in Ohio Charles Roser had part interest in a cheese business in Wellington, Ohio, before he went into the business of making candy and cookies in Kenton, Ohio. The cookie business became part of what is now Nabisco in the 1890s. Roser is credited by some with having invented the Fig Newton (actually a pastry) or at least the process or machinery to make it, but Nabisco has never acknowledged these claims. In any event Roser left his cookie business a very rich man. Today Anna Maria is a residential community as well as a year-round vacation resort.