Denver’s James Leprino, a Food Industry Giant Who Made his Fortune Producing Mozzarella Cheese, Dies at 87
June 25, 2025 | 1 min to read
Jim Leprino helped transform the small grocery business started by his Italian immigrant father in the West Highlands neighborhood of Denver into a powerhouse of an international cheese producer, still headquartered in the same neighborhood. Leprino Foods Company is the world’s largest producer of mozzarella cheese, fulfilling contracts with many of the best-known pizza companies. It is also a leader in the production of dairy ingredients produced in its facilities around the world.
Forbes ranked Jim Leprino as the sixth wealthiest person in Colorado in 2025, with a fortune worth over $2 billion. Leprino Foods is one of the nation’s top privately held companies.
To read more, please visit CBS News, Colorado.