Happy New Year everyone and I truly hope that 2025 turns out to be a prosperous and healthy one for us all.
We heard that Hispanic cheese manufacturer Tropical Cheese Industries, LLC, Perth Amboy, NJ, received an undisclosed investment from AUA Private Equity Partners, LLC, and Avance Investment Management, two investment firms that focus on partnering with family and founder-owned businesses. The Mendez family, who founded Tropical Cheese, and the management team will retain a significant minority interest in the company, according to ROI-NJ.
The company, which also produces Hispanic meat and food products, began when Rafael Mendez immigrated to the United States at the age of 17. Mendez settled in New Jersey in the 1970s and began delivering milk, serving the Hispanic community. He later founded his company, Tropical Cheese, in 1982.
The investment will help the company drive product penetration, expand distribution points with additional centers and build lasting customer relationships, said Andy Unanue, managing partner of AUA Private Equity Partners, LLC.
“My family and I were looking for a partner that could not only support Tropical Cheese’s future growth, but just as importantly, preserve our strong brand and family legacy,” said Mendez. “AUA and Avance both bring significant investing experience in food companies, family businesses and the Hispanic market, and we look forward to benefiting from their expertise in our next chapter of growth.”
“The investment in Tropical Cheese is a natural fit for us, and came together as a result of our long-standing relationships with the Mendez family and AUA,” said Luis Zaldivar, managing partner of Avance. “Our cultural ties are further solidified by our deep experience with Hispanic foods and family businesses. We understand and appreciate the value of the Tropical Cheese brand, and the significant growth potential within its categories. We look forward to working with the Mendez family, AUA and the Tropical Cheese management team as the company continues to expand nationally, including the pursuit of complementary M&A opportunities.”
The Eastern Produce Council (EPC) Leadership Program is accepting applications for their 2025 class.
The program is a professional development experience for Produce Professionals who have less than 10 years of experience in the industry with the goal to provide the opportunity to gain valuable knowledge from both classroom and field experience. It is a wonderful opportunity for those in the produce category and for more info go to www.easternproducecouncil.com or email them at easternproducecouncil@gmail.com. Applications are needed by January 31.
Goya Foods announced the retirement of Carlos Ortiz after 35 years as vice president and general counsel and has appointed Jesús Vázquez as its new general counsel. Since 1989, Ortiz has safeguarded the company’s legal rights, advised its leadership on various legal matters such as corporate governance, labor laws, and intellectual property, and played a crucial role in enhancing Goya’s brand and revenue. Prior to his tenure at Goya, Ortiz worked as an auditor, tax consultant, law clerk, and litigator. Deeply committed to serving legal and Hispanic communities, he held numerous leadership positions, including national president of the Hispanic National Bar Association, advocating for the appointment of the first Hispanic American Supreme Court justice and influencing the appointment of many Hispanic federal judges. Ortiz, an attorney and certified public accountant, holds degrees in accounting and law, and has received numerous accolades, including being named one of America’s 100 Most Influential Hispanics.
“As we bid farewell to Carlos Ortiz after his remarkable tenure at Goya Foods, we express our deepest gratitude for his invaluable contributions, unwavering dedication, and loyal friendship over the years. His leadership has shaped our legal strategies and strengthened our commitment to excellence. At the same time, we are excited to welcome Jesús Vazquez as our new General Counsel. With his extensive experience and proven track record, we are confident that he will continue to uphold our mission and guide us into a future filled with continued success,” said Bob Unanue, the president and CEO.
Before embarking on a legal career, Vázquez spent seven years in the aerospace industry, and since joining Goya, has made significant contributions that covers a broad spectrum of issues including corporate governance, compliance, intellectual property management and overseeing the mediation of class action litigation. Happy retirement.
Congratulations to old friend Michael Casey as he has joined Vieira’s Bakery as sales manager. Vieira’s is the home of the Original Portuguese roll and has been in business for over 50 years and I’m sure Casey will flourish there.
Here is a great opportunity for all independent retailers in our local market. The National Supermarket Association (NSA) will be conducting a food safety course on February 24 at their offices in Flushing, NY. The course will offer the Food Safety Education Certification required by New York state which was recently amended for retail food stores which prepare food on premises.
The amendments would require (with certain exceptions for small establishments) that every retail food store that applies for a food processing establishment license furnish evidence that an individual from within the store has been recognized as having completed an approved food safety program. The license application will be required to be accompanied by documentation, which demonstrates that this food safety education requirement has been met.In most cases this documentation will be a certificate indicating an individual in a position of management or control has attended an approved course. A failure to comply with the education requirements would result in the denial of the food-processing license.
This requirement does not apply to a food store that has as its only full-time employees the owner or the parent, spouse or child of the owner, or in addition not more than two full time employees. It would also not apply to a food store that has an annual gross sale in the previous calendar year of less than $3,000,000. The food safety education programs established by this amendment would be required not to be less than eight hours long and cover one or more of the following specified topics: New York State food safety statutes and regulations; food borne illness; food microbiology; HACCP; cleaning and sanitation; personal hygiene; temperature control; food security; and pest control.
For more information on how to attend contact the NSA at 718.7472860 or go to nsaglobal.org.
Well that’s a wrap for now. While every new year brings exciting changes, our commitment at BMP remains the same…to offer our readers top quality food industry news, research and opinion.
We look forward to continuing to deliver this to you in 2025 and we look forward to interacting with you in the coming months. And with that said, I love that our industry starts gearing up and getting back to the conferences, trade shows, dinners and other events. It gets us all back on track and lets us network and participate in our wonderful food industry. Right out of the gate I’m looking forward to the NJFC membership meeting, the Food Marketing Institute (FMI) Midwinter Conference in Marco Island, the always entertaining Key Food Selling show and the 2025 NGA Show and Conference in Las Vegas. I hope to see you out at one of these events and as always you can reach me at 201.250.2217 or kevin@foodtradenews.com.