Mark Wetterau
Chairman, Chief Executive
Golden State Foods Corp.
Irvine
Chairman, Chief Executive
Wetterau Associates LLC
St. Louis
Born in St. Louis
Age: 60
Lives in Laguna Niguel
WHY: Leads OC’s second-largest private company with about $7 billion annual sales; services 120,000 restaurants in 40 countries—McDonald’s, Chipotle, Starbucks, Chick-fil-A, Wendy’s and others. Go-to QSR/retail/convenient store foodstuffs manufacturer and distributor for 100-plus companies.
HOW: Began career at St. Louis-based family business Wetterau Inc., a $6 billion food firm founded by his great-grandfather, after bachelor’s degree, Westminster College. Shop ‘n Save chief executive 1987; returned to Wetterau Inc., 1990, as president; sold to SuperValu Stores Inc., 1991, for $1.1 billion. Wetterau Associates buys, runs manufacturing, distribution, retail businesses. Bought minority stake in GSF 1998. In 2004, Wetterau bought out majority partner Yucaipa Cos.
RECENT: Named to Forbes Blockchain 50; entry noted GSF work to “track food along the entire supply chain” to boost food safety, cut paperwork and food spoilage of “$7 billion annually in North America alone.” Sold nine of its 11 McDonald’s-focused distribution centers to Illinois-based logistics firm Martin-Brower LLC to stockpile cash for acquisitions, diversification; GSF retains 18 centers, mostly in U.S. Early 2019 made several changes to global food, logistics operations and executive teams to accelerate global growth.
FAST FACT: Third (and final) child getting married this year; GSF often cited on “largest U.S. private cos.” lists as part of media IPO chatter; Wetterau has shown no indication in that direction.
QUOTABLE: “Talk is cheap but whiskey costs money.” One goal he’s given for past acquisitions: to “meet the needs of fast-growing international markets.”
PERSONAL: Wife, Ginny; three kids, two grandkids. Enjoys snow, water skiing. Builds replica classic cars with brother Conrad, who has participated in past family business deals; Mark loves “all things fast.” GSF Foundation has raised more than $50 million, backed 600 charities since 2002. Sits on multiple corporate and charitable boards.
