ASSOCIATIONS/ORGANIZATIONS:

Industrial Supply Association (ISA), Philadelphia, Pa.
Jeffrey Hughes was named president and CEO, serving as the primary executive support and liaison to ISA officers and board of directors. He will also represent ISA in external relations, including key industry coalitions and media, among other duties. Hughes was chief executive officer of GAMA International, where he catalyzed a 76% membership increase, improved member retention and tripled the organization’s surplus. In addition, Hughes brings corporate experiences with AXA Equitable, AIG and Metropolitan Life.

PROCESSORS/RETAILERS:

Foster Farms, Livingston, Calif.
President and CEO Ron Foster announced plans to step down from his current position, but will continue his role as owner and director of the private, family-owned company. Under Foster’s leadership, Foster Farms’ sales have increased by 70% and maintained its position as what is said to be the No. 1 brand of fresh chicken in the Western United States. The company is in the second year of a 5-year strategic growth plan initiated by Foster, which will see the introduction of major new products under the flagship Foster Farms fresh brand in 2015 and new product entries in prepared foods categories.

Ready Pac Foods, Inc., Irwindale, Calif.
Tristan Simpson was promoted to chief communications officer, responsible for leading all strategic initiatives within corporate communications, creative, marketing and research and development. She will continue to serve as Ready Pac’s company spokesperson, and will focus on the areas of the company that champion the Ready Pac brand. In her most recent role as vice president, corporate communications, Simpson internally and externally drove corporate communications strategies, and played a key role on the senior leadership team, partnering with leaders to execute company-wide initiatives and continuing to ensure cohesiveness and alignment across the company. Since beginning her career at Ready Pac in 2011, she has managed a variety of roles, including marketing director, segment director, senior director of marketing and corporate communications, and most recently, as vice president of corporate communications. She has also been an integral part of launching many new product lines for Ready Pac, as well as launching the redesigned company website and social media platform in March 2012. A tried-and-true veteran within the consumer packaged goods industry, Simpson maintains 20 years of experience in CPG marketing, business development, communications and public relations, and has worked for a variety of high-profile brands and retailers, including Smart & Final, Roll Corp. (Sunkist), Nancy’s Specialty Foods, Frieda’s, Sun Pacific (Cuties California Clementines) and Pandol Bros. 

Delhaize America, Salisbury, N.C.
Michael Laurenti joined as chief information officer, responsible for all information technology and information security operations, which support the company's millions of customers, 100,000 associates and 1,300 stores. Laurenti previously served as CIO for Belk Department Stores, and has more than 20 years of retail leadership in information technology, having worked at Family Dollar Stores, Linens 'N Things and Toys "R" Us. He succeeds Deb Dixson, who announced her retirement earlier this year.  Dixson joined the organization in 2010.

Thai Union Frozen Products, Thailand
Dr. Thamnoon Ananthothai, independent director, was appointed to be a member of the audit committee, replacing Kiti Piluntanadiloke, who resigned Oct. 1.

The Kroger Co., Cincinnati
Alex Tosolini will serve in the newly-created role of senior vice president of new business development, effective Nov. 3. In this position, Tosolini will lead a strategic process to identify, evaluate and develop new opportunities that capitalize on Kroger's assets and contribute to the company's continued growth and financial performance. Tosolini has 24 years of experience as a global business executive for Procter & Gamble Co., most recently serving as senior vice president of global eBusiness and vice president of global eCommerce. He has held numerous leadership positions for P&G throughout his career, both in the United States and internationally, and has managed the development of innovative products and services in many lines of business.

Fairway Group Holdings Corp., New York
Dorothy Carlow was named chief merchandising officer, responsible for leading the merchandising team and the company's buying and sales strategies. She will also be working with the marketing department to amplify and develop programs and promotions that articulate and bring to life Fairway's very unique value proposition. Carlow comes to Fairway from Earth Fare, where she was chief merchandising officer, responsible for leading merchandising, marketing, transportation and logistics.

Barfresh Food Group, Inc., Denver, Colo.
The manufacturer of frozen, ready-to-blend beverages for quick-service and casual restaurants appointed Alice Elliot to its board of directors. Elliot is the founder and chief executive of The Elliot Group, and co-founder of The Elliot Leadership Institute, a non-profit organization dedicated to leadership development and advancement in the foodservice industry.

McDonald’s Corp., Oak Brook, Ill.
Karen King was named new chief people officer, responsible for talent development and human resources for the U.S. business. King served McDonald’s for 37 years, starting as crew in the restaurants and working her way up to president of the East division prior to her retirement in the fall of 2012.

FOODSERVICE:

Domino's Pizza, Inc., Ann Arbor, Mich.
Richard Allison was named president, Domino's International, succeeding Michael Lawton, current chief financial officer, who ran the division prior to Allison. Allison has led the international division since 2011, where he added over 1,800 international stores and 10 new countries. Prior to Domino's, Allison spent over 13 years at Bain & Co., where he was a partner and co-leader of the firm's restaurant practice. Russell Weiner was named president, Domino's U.S.A., responsible for all domestic franchise and corporate store operations, in addition to U.S. marketing. Weiner joined Domino's as chief marketing officer in 2008, where he was central to the success of the Domino's brand turnaround, spurred by the re-launch of its core pizza recipe. Previously, Weiner was head of the Pepsi brand at PepsiCo. Michael Lawton, chief financial officer, will assume the additional responsibilities of the company's supply chain division. Lawton, who has been with Domino's since 1999, has served in both key financial and operational roles for the company, including leading its international business for six years. His expertise will enhance the division's overall effectiveness, including exploring opportunities to find more global efficiencies. Prior to Domino's, Lawton served in both finance and general management roles for Gerber Products Co.

SUPPLIERS:

Bunting Magnetics Co., Newton, Kan.
Mauricio Mendizabal was named international sales manager for Latin America. Mendizabal joined Bunting earlier this year as food industry territory manager, serving customers in the bulk, powder, feed, grain and general food industries. Mendizabal brings many years of domestic and Latin American industrial sales experience. 

NewAge Industries, Southampton, Pa.
Michael Allard was promoted to director of sales, responsible for overseeing sales objectives for both NewAge and AdvantaPure product lines. He will also work with other department heads to plan, prioritize and attain corporate goals and manage and staff the sales team to establish and achieve departmental targets and work with key customers and distributors. Previously, Allard was global sales manager for the company’s AdvantaPure high-purity products division.

IN MEMORIUM: STEVEN LAVOIE, ARROWSTREAM, INC.
Steven LaVoie, founder and former CEO of ArrowStream, Inc., Chicago, passed away Oct. 13, after succumbing to injuries sustained after a disgruntled employee shot the executive before killing himself.

LaVoie founded ArrowStream in 2000 as an idea for how business partners could achieve greater results working together rather than working independently. This idea produced one of the most unique companies in the supply chain industry. With his leadership, ArrowStream empowered companies to re-invent business processes and relationships through use of a technology to drive remarkable value in their supply chains.

“Steven loved to question the status quo,” says Frank Morgiewicz, chief executive officer. “He inspired us to challenge ingrained mindsets and encourage new ways of thinking. His creativity and influence in the supply chain industry is felt in many circles, and is witnessed in the tremendous outpouring of goodwill as he fought to recover from his injuries.”

“Steven was passionate about helping companies think differently about their business,” says Jody LaVoie, Steven’s wife and advisor to ArrowStream. “It is that same great passion for our mission that propels ArrowStream forward with the strong, creative team that he brought together.”