Cacique Foods, a prominent US producer of Hispanic food products, has appointed Pedro Silveira as its new CEO. He previously held executive positions at Mondelez International and Danone.
Silveira takes over from Gil de Cardenas, who has successfully led the company since 2009 and will transition to the role of non-executive chairman of the board.
Founded in 1973 in Monrovia, California, Cacique Foods specializes in producing a wide range of products, including queso Mexican-style cheeses, dips, sour cream, yogurt drinks, salsa, and chorizo under its well-known brand.
Before joining Cacique, Silveira was the president of Mondelez’s North America Ventures unit, where he drove the growth of notable snacking brands like Tate’s Bake Shop, Perfect Snacks, and Hu Chocolates.
His impressive resume also includes senior leadership roles at Danone, where he was the president of both the US yogurt division and the Canadian market, as detailed on his LinkedIn profile.
Additionally, Silveira has experience at Unilever and served on the board of directors for the Dairy Processors Association of Canada from 2015 to 2019.
In his statement, Silveira expressed enthusiasm: “Cacique Foods has become an outright leader in a growing billion-dollar category and yet there is still so much exciting opportunity ahead. I am honoured to take on the role of CEO at this pivotal moment.”
In 2023, Cacique Foods relocated its headquarters from Monrovia to Irving, Texas. That same year, the company ended operations at its California dairy plant in the City of Industry, moving manufacturing to its Amarillo facility in Texas.
The Amarillo factory, measuring 200,000 square meters, was established in 2021 with an $88 million investment and produces a variety of Mexican cheeses, creams, and yogurts.
Cacique Foods also owns a meat processing plant in Cedar City, Utah, along with another facility in Arizona, acquired in 2019 through the purchase of El Sol Foods, a fellow Mexican-style salsa producer.
Outgoing CEO de Cardenas noted: “Having successfully moved our operations from California to Texas and developed a dynamic growth plan designed to expand distribution, product assortment, and opportunities for our team members, I am confident this is the right time to pass the baton to Pedro to lead our path forward.”
