Cheese family business promotes next-gen

Davisco Foods International, the cheese and food company owned by the Davis family, has named third-generation Jon Davis as president and chief executive of the family business.

Jon, the former chief operating officer of Davisco, will follow in the footsteps of his father Mark and grandfather Stanley, who also previously served as CEOs of the company. Mark is currently chairman of the Minnesota-based family-run firm, while Stanley founded the family business in 1943 by purchasing St Peter Creamery.

According to a statement by Davisco, well known in the field of whey protein research, Jon first began working in the family business at the age of 14. Following a degree from the University of St Thomas, Jon rejoined the company in 1992 and became chief operating officer in 2000.

“Jon has grown up in our family business and the dairy industry, and has earned the opportunity to lead Davisco as we go forward,” said Mark in the release.

Other third-generation members Marty, Mitch and Matt, who are also Mark’s sons, are involved in the American company, which produces more than one million pounds of cheese every day and is one of the largest suppliers of the dairy product to Kraft Foods.

Since its founding, Davisco has expanded to include plants in Idaho and South Dakota, and offices in Mexico City, Minneapolis, Geneva and Shanghai.