Richard Sands, longtime leader of Constellation Brands, helped build one of the world’s most influential beverage alcohol companies through disciplined acquisitions, premium brand strategy, and global distribution scale. As CEO and later chairman, Sands oversaw Constellation’s transformation from a regional wine and spirits distributor into a powerhouse with iconic beer brands such as Corona and Modelo in the U.S., alongside leading wine and spirits portfolios. Known for strategic foresight and long-term capital allocation, he positioned the company to benefit from premiumization and shifting consumer preferences. Sands’ legacy reflects decades of value creation at the intersection of consumer branding and global supply chains.

Paul Merage, cofounder of Chef America Inc., built one of the most iconic consumer food brands in the U.S. by transforming a simple frozen snack into a mass-market staple. Alongside his brother David, Merage created Hot Pockets in the 1980s, pioneering the handheld frozen-meal category and scaling distribution nationwide through grocery and convenience channels. The success of Chef America culminated in its multibillion-dollar sale to Nestlé, marking one of the most successful exits in packaged foods. Since then, Merage has focused on private investing, real estate, and philanthropy, particularly in education and community development.

Nick Caporella, founder and longtime chairman of National Beverage Corp., built one of the most distinctive players in the U.S. beverage industry by betting early on healthier, flavor-forward drinks. After acquiring the company in the 1980s, Caporella focused on brand-led growth rather than scale-for-scale’s sake, turning LaCroix into a cultural phenomenon and a leader in sparkling water. Known for frugality, tight control, and unconventional strategy, he created outsized value with a small portfolio and an intense focus on margins and brand equity.

Joseph Grendys, owner, chairman, and CEO of Koch Foods, built one of America’s largest vertically integrated poultry producers from a small Chicago-based chicken distributor into a multibillion-dollar industry giant. Joining the company in the 1980s, he expanded Koch Foods through strategic acquisitions, processing plant development, and an aggressive focus on efficiency across farming, processing, and distribution. Today, the company supplies major retailers and food-service chains nationwide, ranking among the top poultry producers in the United States. Known for his low profile and disciplined operations, Grendys has become one of the most successful self-made figures in American agribusiness.

Jim Koch, founder and chairman of The Boston Beer Company, helped ignite America’s craft beer revolution by turning a family beer recipe into the iconic Samuel Adams brand. Launching the company in 1984 from his kitchen, Koch built it into one of the largest and most influential craft brewers in the United States, known for quality, innovation, and an unwavering commitment to traditional brewing principles. Under his leadership, Boston Beer expanded into hard seltzers, ciders, and spirits while maintaining its independent ethos. Koch’s entrepreneurial grit and industry leadership have made him one of the most respected figures in American brewing.

Howard Schultz, former longtime CEO and chairman emeritus of Starbucks, transformed a small Seattle coffee chain into a global brand with more than 35,000 stores worldwide. Inspired by Italy’s espresso culture, he built Starbucks into a company that blended premium coffee with community-driven “third place” experiences. Schultz became known not only for scaling the brand into a multibillion-dollar enterprise but also for his focus on employee benefits, ethical sourcing, and social responsibility. A visionary entrepreneur and occasional political voice, he remains one of the most influential figures in modern retail and consumer culture.

Hilton Schlosberg, co-CEO and president of Monster Beverage, has been instrumental in transforming the company from a small juice business into one of the world’s leading energy drink empires. Partnering with longtime associate Rodney Sacks, he helped steer Monster’s explosive growth through aggressive branding, international expansion, and a landmark partnership with Coca-Cola. Known for his financial acumen and operational discipline, Schlosberg has been central to building Monster into a multibillion-dollar powerhouse that continues to dominate the global energy drink market.

Henry Davis, CEO of Greater Omaha Packing Co., has built the family-owned business into one of America’s largest and most respected beef processors. Founded in 1920, the company has grown under his leadership into a global supplier, processing thousands of head of cattle per day and exporting premium beef to more than 70 countries. Davis is known for combining modern food safety and sustainability practices with a relentless focus on quality, positioning Greater Omaha as a trusted brand in both domestic and international markets while maintaining its heritage as a family-run enterprise.

Hamdi Ulukaya, founder and CEO of Chobani, transformed the U.S. yogurt market by popularizing Greek yogurt and building a multibillion-dollar food company from humble beginnings. An immigrant from Turkey, he bought a shuttered Kraft plant in upstate New York in 2005 and grew Chobani into America’s top-selling yogurt brand through bold marketing, product innovation, and a commitment to quality. Known for his “anti-CEO” ethos, Ulukaya has championed employee ownership, progressive workplace policies, and refugee support initiatives, redefining what it means to build a purpose-driven business.

GT Dave, founder and CEO of GT’s Living Foods, is widely credited with bringing kombucha into the mainstream U.S. market. Starting in the mid-1990s from his family’s kitchen in Los Angeles, he transformed a homemade health drink into a billion-dollar brand, now the leading kombucha company in the world. Known as the “King of Kombucha,” Dave built his business without outside investors, maintaining full ownership while expanding into wellness beverages that emphasize authenticity, probiotics, and natural ingredients. His story reflects both entrepreneurial persistence and a passion for health-driven innovation.

Angus “Duke” Reyes is an American billionaire businessman and CEO of Reyes Holdings, a family-run food and beverage distribution giant with over $40 billion in annual sales and nearly 30,000 employees. The youngest brother of co-chairmen Chris and Jude Reyes, Duke leads Reyes Beverage Group and serves on the executive board guiding the firm’s global expansion and operational scale. 

Charles Dean Metropoulos is a Greek‑American billionaire investor and turnaround specialist. Founder and CEO of C. Dean Metropoulos & Co., he has revived iconic consumer brands like Hostess, Pabst Brewing, Bumble Bee Foods, and Pinnacle—all through disciplined buy-and-build value creation across 80+ companies and ~$12 billion of invested capital.  

David Tran is the Vietnamese‑born entrepreneur and founder of Huy Fong Foods, creator of the iconic Sriracha “Rooster Sauce.” After fleeing Vietnam in 1979 aboard the Huey Fong ship, he started the company in Los Angeles in 1980. With no advertising and relentless quality control, his Sriracha brand grew into a billion‑dollar business, stocked in U.S. supermarkets and cult‑favorite restaurants worldwide.

Danny Wegman is the third‑generation leader and longtime chairman of Wegmans Food Markets, the privately held grocery chain founded in Rochester, New York, in 1916. He succeeded his father Robert as CEO in 2005, building the retail brand into a beloved regional empire of over 110 stores across 10 states.

Daniel Lubetzky is a Mexican‑American billionaire entrepreneur, author, and social innovator. He founded KIND Snacks in 2003 and grew it into a multibillion-dollar global brand known for purpose-driven business. Before KIND, he launched PeaceWorks and the OneVoice Movement to foster economic cooperation in the Middle East. A Stanford JD and Trinity University economics alum, he is also a major philanthropic leader and former “Shark Tank” investor turned full-time Shark

J. Christopher “Chris” Reyes is the American billionaire co‑chair and elder founding brother of Reyes Holdings, a $40 billion family-run food and beverage distribution giant. He teamed with his brother Jude to grow a single Schlitz beer distributor in 1976 into the country’s largest McDonald’s and beverage logistics provider.

Christian W. E. Haub is the German‑American CEO and majority stakeholder of Tengelmann Group, the global retail conglomerate founded by his family in 1867. Since 2018, he has consolidated leadership—acquiring a controlling share after his brother Karl‑Erivan’s disappearance—and now oversees operations in discount grocery, e-commerce, and retail across Europe and North America. He also leads Emil Capital Partners, holds board roles in Metro Inc. and Boston College, and is known for his strategic vision and reputable family legacy.  

Charles Butt is the chairman and CEO of H‑E‑B, the San Antonio‑based supermarket chain founded by his grandmother in 1905. Taking over leadership in 1971, he transformed H‑E‑B into a $39–42 billion private company with over 400 stores across Texas and Mexico. A Wharton and Harvard MBA alum, Butt is also a generous philanthropist—pledging more than $150 million to education initiatives and public school teachers, and earning Mexico’s Aztec Eagle Medal for cross-border giving.

Bert “Tito” Beveridge is the self-made entrepreneur behind Tito’s Handmade Vodka. A former geophysicist, he launched the distillery in 1997 with financing from 19 credit cards, sleeping on floors as he built his business. Overcoming regulatory hurdles in Texas, he created a smooth, gluten-free corn-based vodka that achieved breakout success after a 2001 double‑gold medal win—and is now one of America’s fastest-growing spirits.  

Andrew Cherng is the Chinese–Taiwanese–American restaurateur and analytics-driven CEO behind Panda Restaurant Group—the force behind Panda Inn and the fast‑food giant Panda Express. With degrees in mathematics, he launched Panda Inn with his father in 1973, scaled Panda Express from a mall food-court concept in 1983 to over 2,000 locations, and maintains private, family-led leadership focused on innovation, philanthropy, and operational excellence.