Case Studies Chief Executive Officer

For Ray Roch Jr., the third-generation owner of Roch’s Fresh Foods, waking up well before dawn is a family tradition. Now based in West Greenwich, Rhode Island, Roch’s Fresh Foods was founded in the early 1930s by Joseph Roch, Ray’s grandfather, who rose early each day to open his corner grocery market in the Pawtuxet […]

Ask Nate Offenberg the reason for his company’s success, and he’ll says it’s more than just the quality of the product Pacific Farms delivers. “For any family-owned business with a global footprint, strong relationships with partners around the world are just as important,” he tells Terra Firma. Pacific Farms, which has corporate offices in Reno, […]

John Colapinto is at a point in his life where his biggest concern could be his golf score. Indeed, the resident of south-central Pennsylvania enjoys chasing birdies as well as spending time with his family, especially his grandchildren. But there’s another family in Milwaukee that Colapinto cares deeply about. That’s the Hughes family, founders and […]

It sounds like one of those periodic get-togethers of NFL bosses. Each has a Type A personality and is committed to his team’s success but still must compromise for a greater cause, such as the league’s fiscal health. For the 30 seafood companies that comprise the National Fisheries Institute’s Crab Council also are a competitive […]

Brent Schwoerer says it would take his growing operation in Springfield, Illinois, eight years to produce what Anheuser-Busch does in one batch. So be it. As far as he’s concerned, a greater honor would be his company’s designation as a Certified B Corp., a process that was well underway when Schwoerer spoke to Terra Firma […]

What doesn’t beat you only makes you stronger. Sure, it’s a cliche but at least in Vistar’s case, Kelly Saad says it applies. “We’re an even stronger organization now than we were before COVID-19,” she tells Blueprint in September. “We’ve learned a lot of lessons, including how to do more with less.” As president of […]

Giuseppe Loffredo and his family had only been in the U.S. for a year when he founded the Loffredo Fruit and Tobacco Co. in Des Moines, Iowa, in 1892. He cultivated land to grow tomatoes and other vegetables he sold to hotels, restaurants and even U.S. Army soldiers stationed in the Midwest. It was a […]

A sprinkle of praline caramel pecans atop a scoop of fresh strawberry ice cream can strike the perfect balance between salty and sweet, crunchy and smooth, on a hot summer’s day—or even a chilly winter’s one. J.C. Brigham had the same idea over 70 years ago when he started making not only ice cream, but […]

When a steakhouse needed a new oven but couldn’t afford it because business had slowed during the COVID-19 pandemic, CRS paid for it and provided a financing plan. Then, it installed and serviced the oven. According to Derek Clark, the owner and vice president of CRS, or Clark Restaurant Service, this was just business as […]

Josh Beckett didn’t start off as the owner and chief executive officer of Anna’s House—he came in 2004 because he loved the food and the atmosphere. In 2005, a year after his first meal and not wanting the business to close, he purchased the business from Becky Miller, who was no longer interested in owning […]