Lino Saputo

Early life and immigration

Lino Saputo was born in 1937 in Montelepre, Sicily, to Giuseppe Saputo, a cheesemaker, and his wife Maria. His father and eldest brother, Frank, were the first to leave for Canada, immigrating to Montreal, Quebec in 1950. This family migration established the foundation for the future business, as Giuseppe Saputo brought his cheesemaking skills to the new country. The experience of arriving as an immigrant in post-war Canada shaped Saputo's approach to building a business from the ground up.

Building Saputo Inc.

Saputo's career is inextricably linked to the dairy company that bears his family name. He worked alongside his father to grow the small cheese-making operation into a major enterprise. In 1969, he assumed the roles of chairman of the board and president of Saputo Inc., taking formal leadership of the company. A major milestone was reached in 1997 when Saputo oversaw the company's initial public offering, transitioning it to a publicly traded entity on the stock market, and he was named chairman and chief executive officer at that time. His leadership continued until a planned succession in 2004, when his son, Lino Saputo Jr., was appointed president and CEO. Saputo remained as chairman until August 2017, when his son also assumed that role, though he retains his position as the company's majority shareholder.

Other business interests and philanthropy

Beyond the dairy industry, Lino Saputo has diversified his investments across several sectors. He holds a significant stake in the Canadian trucking company TransForce. His investment portfolio also includes extensive holdings in real estate, forest products, hotels, and golf courses. A passionate hockey fan, Saputo founded a hockey player agency called Quartexx Management. In 2011, he and his family established the Amelia and Lino Saputo Jr. Foundation, which has a mission to support education and future generations, channeling a portion of the family's wealth back into the community.

Honours and recognition

Lino Saputo's contributions to business and community have been recognized with high civilian honours. In 2011, he was appointed an Officer of the National Order of Quebec, one of the province's highest distinctions. The following year, in 2012, he was named a Member of the Order of Canada, with the appointment announced by the Government House on June 29 and published in the Canada Gazette on September 1. These honours acknowledge his role as a builder of a major Canadian corporation. Recognition also extended to the next generation of leadership when his son, Lino Saputo Jr., was named Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year for 2019 by the Financial Post.

Lino Saputo was made an Officer of the National Order of Quebec in 2011. He was appointed a member of the Order of Canada in 2012, as announced by the Government House on June 29, 2012. This appointment was also published in the Canada Gazette on September 1, 2012. His son Lino Saputo Jr. was named Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year for 2019 by the Financial Post.

Allegations and legal actions

Throughout his career, Lino Saputo has faced allegations, which he has denied, of past associations with organized crime figures. Documents and reports, including the 2017 Paradise Papers, have noted his past financial holdings. He was named in those papers for having held shares in an offshore aviation company in Bermuda, which a spokesperson stated was sold in 2010 for business reasons, not for tax considerations. More persistent allegations centre on a relationship with American mobster Joe Bonanno. Saputo admitted to a single meeting with Bonanno in May 1964 at his Saint-Michel factory, where his father offered the mobster a stake in the company, a deal he claims was cancelled upon learning of Bonanno's ties.

Contrary to Saputo's claims of no further contact, a 2020 CBC Enquête investigation reported evidence of an ongoing relationship. An FBI informant reported a meeting in Tucson in 1970, and investigations found evidence of contact over the next nine years. The report also alleged Saputo funneled $51,000 from his brother-in-law and partner Giuseppe Borsellino to Bonanno. Borsellino was identified by RCMP as having links to the Rizzuto crime family. In 1980, a New York Appeals Court Judge, Charles D. Breitel, refused Saputo a business permit citing these alleged ties.

In response to media reports, Saputo Inc. launched defamation lawsuits in March 2008 against the owners of three major newspapers: CTVGlobemedia (The Globe and Mail), Quebecor Inc. (Sun Media), and Gesca Ltd. (La Presse). The lawsuits concerned stories published in December 2007 that alluded to organized crime links. The company's CEO, Lino Saputo Jr., stated the articles contained false allegations against his father and the corporation. A lawsuit was also filed against the Italian magazine L'Espresso for similar articles published in November 2007.

Personal life and family

Lino Saputo maintains a private personal life, with public information primarily relating to his immediate family's role in business. He is the father of Lino Saputo Jr., who succeeded him as the head of Saputo Inc., first as CEO in 2004 and later as chairman in 2017. This succession plan ensured the company remained under family leadership into its second generation. The family's philanthropic activities are conducted through the Amelia and Lino Saputo Jr. Foundation, established in 2011.

Questions about Lino Saputo

How did Lino Saputo make his money?

Lino Saputo made his fortune by founding and building Saputo Inc., a global dairy processing company. He started working in his father's small cheese-making business in Montreal after immigrating from Italy. Under his leadership, the company expanded significantly and went public in 1997. His wealth, estimated at US$4.7 billion in 2022, stems from his majority ownership stake in the publicly traded corporation, alongside investments in trucking, real estate, and other sectors.

What is Lino Saputo's connection to organized crime allegations?

Lino Saputo has faced longstanding allegations of past associations with mobster Joe Bonanno. He admitted to one meeting in 1964 but denied an ongoing relationship. However, a 2020 CBC investigation cited FBI and DEA evidence of contacts between 1970 and 1979. The allegations led to a denied business permit in New York in 1980 and prompted Saputo Inc. to file defamation lawsuits against several Canadian newspapers in 2008 over stories referencing these links. Saputo has consistently denied any improper ongoing relationships.

Is Lino Saputo still involved with Saputo Inc.?

While he is no longer in an executive management role, Lino Saputo remains deeply involved with Saputo Inc. as its founder and majority shareholder. He stepped down as chairman in August 2017, passing the title to his son, Lino Saputo Jr., who had already been CEO since 2004. This transition was part of a planned family succession. Saputo's controlling shareholding means he retains significant influence over the company's direction and ownership.

What honours has Lino Saputo received?

Lino Saputo has been recognized with two of Canada's highest civilian honours. He was appointed an Officer of the National Order of Quebec in 2011. The following year, in 2012, he was named a Member of the Order of Canada. These honours were awarded in recognition of his achievements in building a major Canadian corporation from an immigrant-founded family business and for his associated philanthropic contributions.

What other businesses does Lino Saputo own?

Beyond Saputo Inc., Lino Saputo has a diversified investment portfolio. He owns a significant stake in the Canadian trucking firm TransForce. His other investments span real estate, forest products, hotels, and golf courses. He also founded Quartexx Management, a hockey player agency, reflecting a personal interest in the sport. These holdings demonstrate his activity as an investor across multiple sectors of the Canadian economy.

What is the Amelia and Lino Saputo Jr. Foundation?

The Amelia and Lino Saputo Jr. Foundation is a charitable organization founded by Lino Saputo in 2011. Its mission is to support education and future generations. This foundation represents one of Saputo's philanthropic interests alongside his business and investment activities. Saputo, the founder of Saputo Inc., has a wide range of other interests including significant stakes in a trucking company called TransForce and extensive investments in real estate, forest products, hotels and golf courses. He also founded a hockey player agency named Quartexx Management, reflecting his strong personal interest in hockey.

Sources and further reading

• Lino Saputo (Wikipedia)
• Board Of Directors And Committees (saputo.com)
• There is no shortcut to success (saputofoodservice.ca)
• Quebec dairy mogul Lino Saputo had secret past dealings ... (cbc.ca)

Checked by the Yadude Books desk. Last updated 2026-11-02.