Dairy Processing - January/February 2023 - 24

had helped fuel, it introduced
Sargento Recipe Blends. The
new product line combined
different kinds of natural cheeses
commonly called for in Mexican
and Italian recipes, allowing
consumers to combine authentic
taste with cooking convenience.
The product line initially
launched with two options. The
6 Cheese Italian blend contained
Mozzarella, Provolone, Parmesan,
Romano, Fontina and Asiago,
while the 4 Cheese Mexican blend
featured Cheddar, Monterey Jack,
Queso Quesadilla and Asadero
Mexican cheeses. The debut
products' success would lead the company to
continue developing and refining multi-blend
cheeses for recipes.
In 1969, Gentine said, Sargento
Being familyowned,
we
can do things
differently
and take
those
chances,
making
sure we are
committed to
the future. "
Mike McEvoy, executive
vice president of
operations
revolutionized the dairy aisle with its peg bar.
The company's use of peg bars to hold up its
products changed how cheese was displayed
in grocery stores. Previously, cheeses were
usually displayed on their backs on a dairy case
shelf, which meant only the bottom end of the
package was visible and shoppers' eyes tended
to wander right past the product.
Leonard Gentine and his longtime associate,
future Sargento president Chuck Strobel, found
the solution to this problem in the lunchmeat
section. Lunchmeat was often hung from
metal pegs that allowed the product to be
displayed facing out, making customers more
likely to notice it. Leonard and Strobel realized
the same principle could raise the profile of
Sargento cheese.
Implementing the peg boards required a
huge investment on the part of the company.
Packaging had to be redesigned to suit them,
salesmen had to be trained to install them and
stores had to be convinced to carry them. Today,
peg boards are just a natural part of the grocery
store cheese case.
Sargento Ultra Thin Slices were
revolutionary, as well, the company's CEO
added. Production cut a slice of cheese in half,
which is very difficult to achieve at high speeds.
" Our engineers worked tirelessly to figure
24 JAN-FEB 2023 | DAIRYPROCESSING.COM
out a way to make it happen without sacrificing
safety, throughputs and efficiency, " Gentine
said. " Ultra Thin allowed consumers the option
of having a slice of real natural cheese, with
the same richness, texture and flavor of full fat
cheese, but with half the calories. "
Ultra Thin earned Sargento its first Nielsen
BASES Breakthrough Innovation in 2014,
following its 2012 launch.
" This is one of the highest honors in the
CPG world, where the criteria is relevancy with
consumers, execution in market, distinctiveness
SPORTS AND SERVICE
Sargento believes the role it plays in its
community is paramount. The company is
wholly committed to improving peoples'
lives in its home state by focusing on
providing basic needs, such as addressing
hunger and food insecurity, affordable
housing and education for all.
In 1992, Sargento became the first
corporate sponsor of Milwaukee Habitat
for Humanity. Since then, its partnership
has resulted in 35 homes built for families
in need.
Sargento partners with the Milwaukee
Bucks for its charitable program called
Tipoff for Homes to support Habitat for
Humanity in Milwaukee. For every opening
tip-off the Bucks win throughout the team's
season, Sargento donates $500 to Habitat
for Humanity.
Additionally, every Green Bay Packers
touchdown helps Sargento tackle hunger
in its community. Sargento is the official
cheese of the Packers and its partnership
helps feed families in need. What's more,
2022 marked the 20th season of Touchdowns
for Hunger, and in excess of $1.7 million
dollars has been donated to hunger relief in
Wisconsin since 2002.
Sargento also is the official cheese of the
Milwaukee Brewers. For every double hit by
the Brewers, the company donates $200 to
Hunger Task Force. After 251 total doubles
hit in 2022, $50,200 was donated to the
Milwaukee Food bank.
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