Terry Leprino

Early Life

Terry Leprino, born November 22, 1960, is the daughter of James Leprino, who built Leprino Foods into a global cheese empire. Terry grew up in Denver, Colorado. Her grandfather, Mike Leprino, founded the family grocery store, which evolved into the cheese manufacturing giant.

Rise to Success

Terry Leprino inherited a significant share of Leprino Foods after her father's death in June 2025. Following her father's passing, Terry, along with her sister Gina Vecchiarelli, became the main owners of the $3.6 billion cheese business. Terry spent a decade as a marketing director within the company. She is currently the President of the Leprino Foods Foundation.

Key Business Strategies

Leprino Foods' success is rooted in its ability to innovate. The company pioneered the technology for manufacturing pizza cheese at scale. It supplies major pizza chains such as Domino's, Pizza Hut, and Papa John's. The company has expanded globally and produces over 1 billion pounds of cheese annually.

Philanthropy

Terry Leprino is involved in philanthropy through the Leprino Foods Company Foundation. The Foundation has donated over $4.22 million to various nonprofit organizations since its founding in 2015. The company has also donated approximately 42,500 pounds of cheese in 2023. Leprino also supports various Christian organizations and has served as a trustee for over a decade at Colorado Christian University.