Tropical Cheese Industries LLC acquired the Bangor manufacturing facility and related assets of Pineland Farms Dairy Co. Inc. — a cornerstone of Maine’s dairy industry for decades.
Financial terms were not disclosed. KeyBanc Capital Markets served as financial advisor to Pineland.
The Bangor facility will retain its existing team, with longtime manager Mark Whitney staying on. Tropical said it intends to continue current operations and invest over time to expand cheese production at the site.
The facility will become Tropical’s second core cheese manufacturing location, complementing its headquarters and primary cheese plant in Perth Amboy, N.J.
“The facility provides an important foundation for our future growth,” said Victor Mehren, Tropical’s CEO. “Bangor brings together an experienced workforce, strong connections to Maine’s dairy community, and the infrastructure and room to expand production over time.”
Longtime dairy plant
Pineland Farms Dairy Co. was established in 2017 as a spinout from Pineland Farms Potato Co. in Mars Hill.
The spinout moved its cut, wrap and cheese-aging operations from Mars Hill to a former milk blend facility in Bangor’s Hildreth North Business Park and began operations there in late 2018.
Today, Pineland produces dairy products for retail and foodservice customers across the Northeast, using Maine milk to produce specialty cheeses and fluid milk products.
Founded in 1982 by Rafael Mendez, Tropical offers Hispanic cheese, meat and other food products.
Over the years, Tropical has expanded throughout the United States, the Caribbean, Central and South America and Europe. It is one of the leading producers and distributors of Latino-targeted dairy products in the U.S.
In 2024, Tropical received a significant investment from New York-based private equity firm Avance Investment Management and Florida-based lower middle-market investment firm AUA Private Equity Partners LLC; both are Hispanic-led investment firms focused on partnering with family and founder-owned businesses.
Tropical’s founding Mendez family and its management team retained a significant minority interest in the company, according to a separate news release.
At the time, Luis Zaldivar, managing partner of Avance, said the investment came together as a result of Tropical’s “significant growth potential” within its categories as the company continues to expand nationally, including the pursuit of complementary merger and acquisition opportunities.
Further investment expected
No immediate changes to existing customer, supplier or operating relationships are planned, according to a news release.
Tropical said it intends to continue building on the facility’s longstanding relationships with Maine’s dairy community as production grows and to increase its Bangor workforce over time as investment and production at the facility increase.
Carollynn Lear, Bangor’s city manager, said the Queen City is ideal for Tropical, thanks to area universities, a skilled workforce, an international airport, and a culture, arts and entertainment scene.
Ashley Pringle, senior vice president of operations for Maine & Co., said the nonprofit economic development organization would support Tropical’s expansion as part of a broader vision to build and grow Maine’s food businesses.
“Having this well-known brand be in a position to source Maine dairy and to help grow our existing small agricultural businesses is truly a win-win,” said Mike Duguay, commissioner of the Maine Department of Economic and Community Development.
