Pete Mattson, founder of the Silicon Valley-based contract food & beverage development firm that bore his name, died March 17 at age 82.
Pete started Mattson in 1977 as a novel, outsourced product innovation and development service. He pitched strategies and new product opportunities to multinationals such as Kraft, Nestle and Starbucks. He eventually sold the business to Mattson employees.
He and his firm helped many products get launched. Mattson was involved in the development of such brands and products as Odwalla, Jamba Juice, Popchips, Emerald’s Cocoa Roast Almonds and Orange Julius. Many more food & beverage firms sought his insight.
“His sense of the market and the technical insights he and his team developed were unparalleled," said Will Rosenzweig, founding CEO of The Republic of Tea. "Creative, wise, generous and strategic, he was the epitome of a visionary."
His wife Patty, who also was involved with the business in the early days, died in 2016.
