Investor-backed Tropical Cheese has added animal protein to its dairy portfolio with the acquisition of fellow Hispanic producer Cibao Meat Products.
The deal brings the Induveca and Campesino brands under Tropical Cheese’s umbrella.
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Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed.
Cibao will operate as the Cibao Meat Products Division within Tropical Cheese.
In a statement yesterday (13 January), the dairy group said the acquisition allows it to offer a “more complete” portfolio of branded Hispanic refrigerated food products.
Victor Mehren, who took over as CEO of Tropical Cheese in September, said the transaction “accelerates” the company’s growth trajectory.
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By GlobalData“With Cibao, we will significantly strengthen our Meats Division, expand our Hispanic foods platform, and broaden our reach across the food industry and Hispanic community,” he added. “This combination provides our customers with more high-quality offerings, stronger support, and additional resources behind service and execution.”
Both Tropical Cheese and Cibao are family-run businesses.
Heinz Vieluf Jr., the president of Cibao, said: “Joining Tropical Cheese gives Cibao access to greater resources and capabilities, enabling us to further invest in the business and deliver for our customers.”
Founded in 1982, Tropical Cheese began as a small milk delivery service in Perth Amboy, New Jersey, before expanding into the production of Latin American and Caribbean-style cheese, meat, seafood and tortillas.
In 2024, the company secured “significant” investment from Avance Investment Management and AUA Private Equity Partners, with the founding Mendez family retaining a minority stake.
Tropical Cheese is now “focused on expanding its reach, growing its portfolio, and becoming a leading brand across the full spectrum of Hispanic refrigerated food products on the East Coast”, according to the statement.
Beyond the US market, Tropical Cheese also supplies customers in the Caribbean, Central and South America, and Europe, according to its website.
