Forever Cheese, importer of cheese, nuts, cured meats, and other gourmet products, has named Tyler Hawes, founder of Grand Ferry Capital and specialty food industry veteran, CEO.
Co-Founders Michele Buster and Pierluigi Sini will remain shareholders and in their current roles.
“We have known Tyler for many years as a trusted colleague and member of the industry,” said Buster and Sini, in a statement. “Because of our longstanding relationship and his passion for Forever Cheese, we knew he was the ideal choice to steward the company into its next chapter and lead the business as CEO.”
Hawes has over 15 years of executive-level leadership experience across several organizations in specialty food. Most recently, he was president and COO of Roland Foods, a specialty importer and re-distributor. He worked with Forever Cheese as a customer and supplier and has decade-long relationships with Buster and Sini. Hawes started his career in the cheese industry while at Artisanal Premium Cheese in 2003, and Larkin Cold Storage in 2006.
Over the past two decades, Forever Cheese has worked with its artisan suppliers to help establish the specialty imported cheese industry in the U.S., building a best-in-class reputation for importing the highest-quality products for its retail and foodservice customers, according to the company.
Forever Cheese was the first importer of many premium cheese and accompaniment products into the U.S. Its portfolio includes dozens of products under its flagship Mitica brand, Drunken Goat, manchego, fig, and date cakes, and Mostardas from Mantova.
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