EXECS ON THE MOVE / PROCESSORS

Hormel Foods Corp. Austin, Minn., said it promoted Robert G. Samples to vice president of sales and marketing at Farmer John, a Vernon, Calif., subsidiary. Samples will be accountable for Farmer John marketing functions, retail and foodservice sales, officials said. Samples currently serves as corporate director of planning and support services. He will report to Greg N. Longstreet, president of Farmer John, and will transition to his new position by Oct. 30, 2011, officials said.


EXECS ON THE MOVE / SUPPLIERS

Flexible packaging materials supplier Exopack LLC, Spartanburg, S.C., said it hired Michael Craig (Mike) as vice president of operational development. Officials said Craig will optimize operational efficiencies and continuous quality improvement activities across the company’s business units. Craig previously was a partner with Accenture’s strategy consulting group in Charlotte, N.C.

Eriez, Erie, Pa., said it combined its U.S. and Canadian sales organizations into a consolidated North American sales team and it promoted Dave Heubel to director of North American sales. Eriez supplies separation, metal detection, x-ray, materials feeding, screening, conveying and controlling equipment to the food industry (among others). Heubel previously was national sales manager for the company's U.S. Light and Heavy Industry Markets.