Baking & Snack - June 2019 - 19

Hostess moving main distribution
center to Kansas
Hostess Brands, Inc., Kansas City, MO, is moving its principal distribution center to
Kansas from Illinois. The new distribution center will be open by the end of March 2020.
As a result of this geographic move, the new Kansas-based distribution center will be
closer to the company's largest bakery and more centrally located in the US, the company
stated in a press release. Hostess expects to be able to reach customers faster, reduce transportation costs and improve service levels.
The new distribution center in Kansas will be located in Emporia, about 100 miles
southwest of Kansas City. The precise location of the distribution center was not disclosed.
Benefits from the move will include improved efficiencies and will enhance the company's position with customers, according to Andy Callahan, president and CEO.

Gertsacov

McGahren

Neppl

Mauger

Hartranft

Melillo

People
Dan Gertsacov was named to the newly created role of global chief marketing officer
for Focus Brands Inc., Atlanta, parent company of Auntie Anne's, Carvel, Cinnabon,
Jamba Juice, McAlister's Deli, Moe's Southwest Grill and Schlotzsky's.
Gold Standard Baking, Chicago, promoted Wally Quednau to vice-president of organizational development, Don Van Tassle to vice-president and bakery director for the
Chicago bakery, and Haq Chaudary to chief commercial officer and general manager.
Kevin McGahren was named president of North America for the Hain Celestial
Group, Inc., Lake Success, NY.
Miller Baking Co., Milwaukee, makers of Pretzilla Soft Pretzel Bread, named Kevin
Clark as vice-president of sales.
Ryan LeGrand, current US Grains Council (USGC) director in Mexico, was promoted to president and CEO for the USGC. He will take over for Thomas Sleight who
is retiring.
Bunge Ltd., White Plains, NY, appointed John Neppl as CFO. The company also named
Raul Padilla president of global operations, Christos Dimopoulos president of global
supply chain, and Brian Zachman president of global risk management. Pierre Mauger
will transition from president of Europe and Asia to chief transformation officer.
Tremaine Hartranft was promoted to director of technical sales for Reading Bakery
Systems, Robesonia, PA.
Tony Melillo was named manager of the parts department at WP Bakery Group USA,
Shelton, CT.

B&G Foods, Inc., Parsippany,
NJ, acquired the Clabber Girl
Corp., Terre Haute, IN, maker of
baking powder, baking soda and
corn starch.
Lanthier Bakery, Baie-D'Urfé,
QC, was awarded $2 million in
financial assistance from the
Canada Economic Development.
The funds will be used to expand
and renovate Lanthier's plant in
Baie-D'Urfe.
McKee Foods Corp., Collegedale,
TN, has acquired Prairie City
Bakery, Vernon Hill, IL, a provider of fully baked, thaw-and-sell
bakery solutions for the convenience store, foodservice and instore bakery channels.
PepsiCo, Inc., Purchase, NY,
plans to invest $4 billion in snack
operations in Mexico between
2019 and 2020 as part of a broad
growth initiative focused on four
strategic pillars.
Pretzels, Inc., Bluffton, IN, plans
to expand its manufacturing facility in Plymouth. The company
will add more than 120,000 sq ft,
creating space for additional production and packaging lines.
Archer Daniels Midland Co.,
Decatur, IL, plans to close one of
its two Minneapolis flour mills as
well as its flour mill in Salina, KS.
Ardent Mills, Denver, plans to
close four US flour mills in Macon,
GA; Rush City, MN; Loudonville,
OH, and Red Lion, PA.
The Paxiom Group, Las Vegas,
purchased a second facility in Las
Vegas that is now home to Paxiom
Automation Inc.

Baking & Snack - June 2019

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