Charcuterie Artisans Acquired; Former Meatable Exec Named CEO

Charcuterie Artisans, the parent company of Creminelli Fine Meats and Daniele, has been acquired by an investment fund managed by Industrial Opportunity Partners (IOP) to accelerate growth in the specialty meat industry.

Backed by a “significant” new investment, Charcuterie Artisans plans to expand capacity, strengthen customer partnerships and drive innovation across its portfolio of premium Italian-style meats.

This includes expanding the company’s state-of-the-art production facilities in Rhode Island and Salt Lake City, Utah, which have nearly 700,000 sq. ft. of combined capacity. The plants will “anchor supply chain reliability for current customers while enabling new product development and category leadership,” according to a press release.

“With IOP’s backing, we can double down on execution for current partners while opening new opportunities in the charcuterie category,” said John Brock, Charcuterie Artisans’ newly-appointed EVP of sales and marketing, in a statement. “Our first priority is strong, reliable fill rates. Next comes innovation that drives growth for our customers and the category as a whole.”

Meat industry veteran Jeff Tripician will help usher in a new chapter of growth as Charcuterie Artisans’ new president and CEO. Most recently, Tripician – who has nearly four decades of experience in the industry – led cell-cultured beef and pork business Meatable on a new path as a sustainable protein supplier. His career also includes stints at Niman Ranch, Perdue Farms and Teton Waters Ranch.

“My passion has always been guiding great, high-potential companies toward long-term and financial success. The opportunity to lead these heritage brands, backed by significant investment and with the largest charcuterie capacity in the country, is a perfect fit for my expertise,” wrote Tripician in a LinkedIn post.

Charcuterie Artisans was formed in 2020 when Utah-based Creminelli Fine Meats merged with Rhode Island-based Daniele, resulting in one of the largest charcuterie producers in the U.S. The merger aimed to combine the strengths of both companies while expanding their market presence and product offerings in the specialty protein snack market.

In 2021, the combined entity received an investment from private equity firm Entrepreneurial Equity Partners’ Fund I. The fund targeted investments in companies across the food and CPG landscape with at least $50 million in revenue.

Under IOP, Charcuterie Artisans is focused on strengthening operations, building customer trust, and unlocking the full potential of Creminelli and Daniele, per Tripician’s post.

“For more than a century, our family and teams have been dedicated to crafting authentic Italian-style charcuterie built on tradition, quality and trust. This new chapter allows us to honor that heritage while scaling to meet the growing demand from our customers,” said Cristiano Creminelli, founder of Creminelli, in a statement.