Bauducco appoints Jean-Pierre Comte as North America CEO to drive major US expansion
The appointment comes shortly after Bauducco opened its largest US manufacturing facility in Zephyrhills, Florida, strengthening the company’s domestic production capacity and positioning it for further growth in North America.
NORTH AMERICA – Bauducco, the iconic Brazilian baked goods company, has officially named Jean-Pierre Comte as its Chief Executive Officer for North America, signaling a major strategic push to accelerate its market presence across the United States and Canada.
Comte brings over three decades of fast-moving consumer goods experience to the role, having previously served as President of Rana Meal Solutions and spent nearly ten years leading the Americas division for Barilla.
Before joining Bauducco, he served as president of Rana Meal Solutions, where he oversaw operations in the United States and Canada.
He also spent more than 13 years with Barilla, most recently leading the company’s Americas region across multiple countries and brands.
Earlier in his career, Comte held sales and marketing leadership positions during more than 17 years with Procter & Gamble.
The high-profile executive appointment coincides with a broader leadership transition within the company.
Stefano Mozzi, who previously served as CEO of Bauducco’s international business unit and US operations, has stepped into the role of Global CEO for Pandatura Group, the parent entity that oversees Bauducco, Casa Bauducco, Visconti, and associated brands.
Mozzi praised Comte’s proven track record in brand building, portfolio innovation, and supply chain management as essential assets for navigating an increasingly competitive North American market.
Comte’s arrival follows the opening of Bauducco’s state-of-the-art 160,000-square-foot manufacturing and distribution facility in Zephyrhills, Florida.
Representing a long-term capital investment exceeding US$200 million, the campus is designed to scale to 1.2 million square feet and is projected to create over 600 local jobs once it reaches full operational capacity.
The facility is being developed in three phases, with the second phase slated to begin operations by 2028 and the third by 2030.
The Florida facility enables Bauducco to produce its core product lines domestically for the first time, including its category-leading panettone, where the company holds a dominant share of the US market, as well as wafers and biscuits.
By shifting from an import-reliant model to localized domestic manufacturing, Bauducco aims to shorten supply chain lead times, enhance responsiveness to major retail partners like Walmart, and capture surging consumer demand.
Comte expressed enthusiasm for scaling the family-owned enterprise’s 75-year heritage, noting that the combination of local manufacturing capacity and expanding retail distribution positions Bauducco for sustainable long-term growth across North America.
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