Tropical Cheese Industries, based in the US, has appointed Victor Mehren as its new CEO, effective September 2.
Previously, Mehren stepped down as CEO of Second Nature Brands, a snacks and treats business that he led since 2019.
During his tenure at Second Nature Brands, Mehren initiated a “bold transformation that significantly increased revenue, expanded the brand portfolio, and delivered strong investor returns,” according to Tropical Cheese’s statement.
Moreover, he managed the acquisition of Voortman cookies from JM Smucker for $305 million, which included a factory and approximately 300 employees.
Before his role at Second Nature Brands, Mehren held senior executive positions at Mars and Wrigley.
Founded in 1982, Tropical Cheese has transformed from a small milk delivery service in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, into a prominent producer of Latin American and Caribbean-style cheese, meat, seafood, and tortillas.
Last year, Tropical Cheese received investment from Avance Investment Management and AUA Private Equity Partners, while the founding Mendez family retained a minority interest in the company.
The company is now “focused on expanding its reach, growing its portfolio, and becoming the undisputed leader in Hispanic dairy and adjacent food categories,” as stated in their announcement.
Luis Zaldivar, managing partner of Avance, commented: “With a strong track record of leading transformational growth for a number of iconic consumer goods brands, Vic brings the right mix of strategic vision, operational expertise, and cultural leadership to position Tropical as the market-leading producer and provider of Hispanic dairy products.”
In addition to the US, Tropical Cheese supplies markets throughout the Caribbean, Central and South America, as well as Europe, as noted on its website.
Reflecting on his appointment, Mehren stated: “Tropical Cheese is an iconic brand built on authenticity, quality, and deep cultural roots. I see tremendous opportunity to scale the Tropical Cheese platform nationally while staying true to what makes the business so special.”
