President and CEO
Masters Gallery Foods | Plymouth
Cheese has been the Gentine family business dating back to 1953, when Jeff Gentine’s grandfather, Leonard Gentine Sr., founded Sargento Foods. Jeff’s father, Leonard “Butch” Gentine Jr., went on to found Masters Gallery Foods. After starting his career at Richfood Inc., Jeff Gentine joined Masters Gallery Foods in 1996 and held various roles before becoming president and CEO in 2017. A leading national cheese supplier, the company reports $1.7 billion in annual sales and has 1,100 employees. Gentine serves on the International Dairy Foods Association cheese board and executive council, the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association board of directors, and FaB Wisconsin executive board.
Education: Bachelor’s, Bryant University
Favorite Wisconsin destination: “Door County.”
Favorite movie: “‘Jaws.’ Growing up I spent many summers on Cape Cod and Martha’s Vineyard where the movie was filmed, so it’s extremely nostalgic, but it’s also one of the best Spielberg movies ever with terrific actors (even the shark, when it worked)!”
The future of your industry: “Strong. Natural cheese consumption continues to grow worldwide, and with that comes an escalating need for countries to import a safe, reliable cheese supply.”
What would you like to change about Wisconsin: “More housing to attract workers, something we are working on in Sheboygan County through the Forward Fund, a public-private partnership developed to build 400-500 homes throughout the county to help attract workers to our area.”
2022 Wisconsin 275 Profile
Manufacturing | Food & Beverage
President and CEO
Masters Gallery Foods | Plymouth
Jeff Gentine is carrying on his family’s cheese legacy as president and chief executive officer of Plymouth-based cheese supplier Masters Gallery Foods. Gentine is the grandson of Sargento Foods founder Leonard Gentine Sr., and son of Masters Gallery Foods founder Butch Gentine Jr.
Jeff Gentine began his career as a private label buyer for grocery wholesaler Richfood Inc. in Richmond, Virginia. He joined Masters Gallery Foods in 1996 as a regional sales manager and went on to hold other positions in procurement and manufacturing operations. He worked for more than 10 years as executive vice president before being named president and CEO in 2017.
He serves on the board of the Wisconsin Cheese Makers Association and the International Dairy Foods Association’s Cheese board.
Masters Gallery has one of the largest privately held cheese inventories in the U.S. Its divisions include private-label retail, food service and industrial sales. The company has more than 900 employees.
The company is currently investing $60 million to expand its cheese packaging and distribution facility in Oostburg. The expansion, which will bring the total facility to more than 285,000 square feet, is expected to create 105 new jobs.
Education: Bachelor’s, Bryant University
Favorite cheese: Spanish Manchego or extra-aged Wisconsin cheddar
