Jay Lapeyre has grown Laitram, the local business founded by his father in 1947, from a company that automated shrimp peeling into a global manufacturer of conveyor belts, equipment and components that serves clients as diverse as food processors, electric vehicle battery makers and Amazon.
His business depends on innovation and global trade, and he sees rising risks for businesses because of inflation here and abroad. He’s also concerned about the war in Ukraine and he shared insights on how Amazon has shifted its strategy in recent years.
Lapeyre joined Laitram in 1979 and as CEO helped turn what he called a “dysfunctional family business” into a powerhouse with more than 2,800 employees, 191 patents to its name and annual revenues that are estimated to be as high as $750 million. (The company…
