Peter Lehmann

The seemingly indestructible Peter Lehmann (the person) died in June 2013, laying the seeds for what became the last step in the sale of the minority Lehmann family ownership in the company. The Hess Group of California had acquired control in ’03 (leaving part of the capital with the Lehmann family) but a decade later it became apparent that Hess wished to quit its holding. Various suitors put their case forward but Margaret Lehmann (Peter’s widow) wanted ongoing family, not corporate, ownership. Casella thus was able to make the successful bid in November ’14, followed by the acquisition of Brand’s Laira in December ’15. -JAMES HALLIDAY