Manuel Cidre

Manuel "Manolo" Cidre Miranda (born 1953) is a Cuban-born Puerto Rican businessman and politician who became, on December 1, 2015, an official candidate for Governor of Puerto Rico. He lost the election to Ricardo Rosselló.

Manuel Cidre arrived in Puerto Rico from his native Cuba at a young age, first living in the northern coastal city of Arecibo. In his new country, he eventually dedicated himself to the business world, opening, in 1978, along with brother Guillermo Cidre a company in Bayamon named "Los Cidrines", which sells bakery goods and bread in Puerto Rico. Now the company also sells in the US market, managed by his sister Maria Cidre.

His commitment to Puerto Rico led him to serve multiple community and philanthropic organizations in Puerto Rico:

• Fundación Comunitaria
• SER de Puerto Rico
• Echar Pa’ Lante
• Compañía para el Desarrollo Integral de la Península de Cantera
• Agenda Ciudadana
• Instituto de Política Pública Universidad Metropolitana Sistema Ana G. Méndez (UMET)
• Centro Margarita

At the administrative level and as a business and civic leader, he has excelled in:

• President of "Asociación Productos de Puerto Rico"
• President of "Asociación de Industriales de Puerto Rico",
• President and founder of "Alianza para el Desarrollo de PR"
• President of the board of directors of Small Business Development & Technology Center

His work has been recognized by community and professional organizations such as:

• "Premio al Buen Vecino" – American Red Cross

• Distinguished Citizen Award -Boys Scouts of América

• Corporate Social Responsibility Award – "Asociación de Mercadeo, Industria y Distribución de Alimentos M.I.D.A."

• Citizen of the Year: Private Sector – Caribbean Business

• Ten Top Business Leader – Caribbean Business (2011,2012, 2013, 2014)

• Hall of Fame -Ten Top Business Leader 2015

• Business Achievement Award – Pontificia Universidad Católica de Puerto Rico

• Zenit Award 2010 Citizen of the Year – "Cámara de Comercio de Puerto Rico"

• Héctor Jiménez Juarbe Award – "Asociación de Industriales de Puerto Rico"

• Special Award of the President– "Cámara de Comercio de Ponce y Sur de PR"

• Distinguished Entrepreneur Award – "Asociación Hombres y Mujeres de Empresa"

• Excellence in Private Enterprise – "Compañía Fomento Económico de Puerto Rico"

• Entrepreneurship Award – Ernest & Young Entrepreneur of the Year

• Manufacturer of the Year – "Asociación de Mercadeo, Industria y Distribución de Alimento M.I.D.A."

• "Industrial del Año" – "Asociación de Industriales de Puerto Rico"

Manuel Cidre has 4 children and 6 grandchildren.He is married to Anabelle Colón.

Cidre ran for Governor of Puerto Rico during the Puerto Rican general election, 2016 as an independent candidate. Asked by Carmen Jovet which of the three main ideologies in Puerto Rico (statehood, free association or independence) he identified with, he declined to identify himself with any of them but commented that he is against Puerto Rico's status as a colony. In the debate of Young in Telemundo he declared that he will not support statehood.