Justin’s, maker of all-natural, high-quality nut butters and peanut butter cups, has announced that Peter Burns has been hired as the brand’s President and CEO, expanding the growing Justin’s family. 

“As we continue to build the Justin’s brand, it is critical that we bring in a seasoned veteran who has the expertise to take our company to the next level,” said Justin Gold, founder of Justin’s. “As the Founder of Justin’s, I will always be involved in the day-to-day, especially as it relates to the company culture, values and vision. Peter’s role is to lay the foundation to take us there. I could not have imagined a better person to fill this role. Not only is Peter a friend and a mentor, but he is an incredibly talented leader that I am fortunate to have join our team.”

In his role, Burns will oversee all aspects of the business ensuring its goals are met. He has clearly defined strategic growth objectives for Justin’s, which include revenue, growth margin and a focus on product and innovation. Since joining the company earlier this year, he has been integral to building up the brand’s operations team in an effort to put it in a prime position for rapid growth. In addition, Burns has supported the sales function by bringing on two new team members, a Senior Vice President of Sales and a Vice President of Sales, to implement a sales strategy and help the team to focus on the brand’s top customers.

“I have been in this industry for over 20 years, and it has always been my goal to lead a passion brand that stays true to its mission and provides consumers with products they can both trust and enjoy,” said Burns. “I am grateful to have the opportunity to be part of a company that I believe in both professionally and personally. Justin’s has tremendous growth potential and I look forward to bringing my experience to the brand.”

Prior to joining Justin’s, Burns was the President of Celestial Seasonings for Hain Celestial Group where he developed and managed the Celestial Seasonings worldwide business. He created business strategies and delivered 20 consecutive quarters of financial targets for the company. He also previously held positions including Chief Sales Officer for Hain Celestial Group U.S., Executive Vice President of Sales and Marketing at Jones Soda Company and Executive Vice President of Sales at IZZE Beverage Company.