September 24/Austin, Minn./Business Wire -- Hormel Foods announced the upcoming retirement of Dr. Phillip L. Minerich, vice president of research and development, effective December 31, 2013. As a result, Dr. Kevin L. Myers, director of product and process development, research and development, will be promoted to vice president of research and development, effective October 28, 2013.

“We have been so fortunate to have Phil as a member of our team for more than 37 years and as vice president of research and development for the past eight years,” said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. “He has significantly advanced our food science capabilities and inspired a major leap forward in new product innovation. On behalf of the company, we wish him the best of luck in his retirement. In addition, congratulations to Kevin on his advancement. He has demonstrated the leadership skills to drive change and produce results.”

Minerich began his career with Hormel Foods as a quality control trainee at the Austin (Minn.) Plant in 1976. A year later, he was promoted to quality and process control engineer. For the next six years, he held several foreman positions and then in 1983, transferred to the Corporate Office (Austin, Minn.) to become the sanitation specialist. A few months later, he became the corporate manager of sanitation. In 1984, he transferred back to the Austin Plant and held several foreman positions and in 1988, transferred to research and development to become a food technologist. In 1991, he became a senior food technologist and then a research scientist in packaging. In 2002, he became the development leader of new food safety interventions and, a year later, was promoted to director of product and process development and packaging. He assumed his current position as vice president of research and development in 2005.

Myers came to Hormel Foods with 11 years of experience in the food industry, holding management positions in food technology, research science, and new product development. In 2001, he started with the company as a research scientist for fresh meat at research and development. He was promoted to development leader of fresh and processed meats in 2005, and a year later, was promoted to group manager of product development. In 2012, he assumed his current role as director of product and process development. Myers is a graduate of Iowa State University.