Cedar's Foods CEO Charles Hanna on Building a Hummus Empire

Hanna’s journey into the family business began in the 1990s, when he pivoted from his own restaurant aspirations to help his father scale the company. He spent years driving delivery trucks and managing sales without brokers, eventually taking the reins in the mid-2000s. Today, he remains deeply involved in marketing, finance, and sales, intentionally eschewing an assistant to stay connected to the daily operations. His leadership style, which he compares to a volleyball team, emphasizes collaboration; he refuses to sit at the head of the conference table, preferring to position himself among his staff to encourage open input.

Beyond the office, Hanna maintains a routine centered on community and family. His evenings are typically spent hosting dozens of relatives at his home, a tradition he views as vital to his well-being. Whether he is developing new product flavors or funding education initiatives in Lebanon, his approach remains rooted in his father’s original mandate: maintain the highest possible quality and keep intentions pure. He views his role not as a permanent tenure, but as a responsibility to be passed on the moment he can no longer contribute to the company's growth.