Sargento Foods has a long and distinguished history as one of the largest manufacturers of natural shredded cheese in the United States. This is no small feat as the company’s annual sales top $1.8 billion. The company is also one of the largest manufacturers of prepackaged cheese in America. Founded in 1953 by Leonard Gentine, Sargento has been around for a while. Lou Sargento is the current CEO and chairman of the board. He has been involved with the company in multiple capacities, including as a salesman, accounts receivable and retail manager, and as a commercial lender in the banking sector.
Sargento Foods is also an innovator in the industry. One of the earliest manufacturers to introduce prepackaged cheese to the United States, Sargento was a pioneer in the dairy category. In the mid-2000s, Sargento introduced several new products to the market, notably cheddar, smoked gouda, and mozzarella string cheese. Today, Sargento has more than 2,000 employees and sales in 50 states. It also boasts a remote sales force that reaches consumers across the country.
There’s no question that the company’s best known product, its flagship Sargento brand of cheese, is a success. Sales have grown from about $80 million to over $1 billion since Lou Sargento took over as CEO in 1981. To help expand its packaged cheese product lines, the company announced it would acquire Baker Cheese Factory, Inc., a St. Cloud-based manufacturer of mozzarella string cheese, in October 2018. However, the acquisition will not change the face of the company.
Sargento is a family-owned business. As a matter of fact, there are three sons-in-law who work for the company. While the company has been around for a while, it is now a publicly traded company. Aside from its flagship brand of cheese, Sargento also makes wine and other dairy products.
One of the company’s most impressive achievements has been its ability to produce an innovative wax-covered cheese machine. This was a particularly important innovation for the company because they were in need of financing. By creating this innovative piece of equipment, Sargento was able to keep their costs down and improve their bottom line.
Another achievement worthy of note was their ability to create a product that could stand the test of time. This isn’t surprising considering that Sargento is the leading manufacturer of shredded cheese. During its 50-year history, the company has introduced many of the most popular and innovative brands of cheese to the American consumer. These include a variety of flavored shredded cheese, including cheddar, mozzarella string cheese, and goat cheese. They have also introduced a wide assortment of pre-packaged cheese to the American market, including a variety of specialty products such as bacon cheeseburgers, cheeseburger pizza, and more.
For more information on Sargento Foods, including the company’s financials and a more comprehensive list of the company’s accomplishments, please visit their website. In addition to providing a wealth of information on the company, Zippia offers a more in-depth look at its employee data.
