BFY Holdings Names New President, Chief Sales Officer
Dan Morgan will be responsible for leading the expansion of the company’s sales and distribution efforts
IMAGE CREDIT: Nick Roskelly
BFY Holdings LLC (“BFY”), the better-for-you snack company which makes PopCorners® and other better-for-you branded and private label snack products, announced that Dan Morgan has been named President and Chief Sales Officer, effective immediately. Mr. Morgan will be responsible for leading the expansion of the company’s sales and distribution efforts for both branded and private label products and will report directly to BFY’s Chief Executive Officer, Paul Nardone.
Morgan, who currently serves as Chairman of the Snack Food Association, the international trade association of the snack food industry, has over 27 years of relevant sales and management experience. Most recently, he was the Chief Sales Officer of Snyder's-Lance, Inc., a leading manufacturer and marketer of snack foods throughout the United States and internationally, where he was responsible for managing all the company’s direct store delivery (“DSD”), direct and export sales. Prior to that role, he held various other senior leadership positions at Snyder’s-Lance and one of its predecessor companies, Snyder’s of Hanover.
Before joining Snyder’s of Hanover in 2002, Mr. Morgan helped launch two successful food and snack companies, Patriot Snacks and before that, Bay State Snacks. At Patriot, he helped build the business by partnering with Snyder’s of Hanover to develop Patriot into a strong DSD snack company. At Bay State Snacks, he launched the Famous Amos cookie line in grocery accounts throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He began his career at The Boston Popcorn Company where he helped establish and build the company from its inception.
“Dan is a widely-respected snack industry veteran and an innovative and effective leader, making him an outstanding addition to the BFY management team,” said Paul Nardone, Chief Executive Officer of BFY. “Having built two successful snack businesses from the ground-up before leading sales, distribution and operations for one of the preeminent companies in the snack industry, Dan is bringing a wealth of valuable experience, insights and relationships to BFY as we begin to execute our exciting growth plans. We are thrilled to have an individual of his caliber join our team as we ramp up our brand-building efforts, expand our distribution on a regional and national level and grow our contract manufacturing business.”
“This is an exciting time for PopCorners and all of BFY Holdings, and I feel fortunate to be joining a company with such phenomenal potential,” said Morgan. “Consumer preferences are reshaping the snacking industry in many ways, one of which is a profound shift towards healthier products. BFY is well-positioned to capitalize on that trend, not only because its products are better-for-you alternatives to traditional salty snacks but also because of their superior taste and crunch. I am looking forward to working closely with Paul and building a top-notch sales organization that will broaden and deepen our customer relationships, expand distribution and bring BFY’s snacks to more consumers.”
The company also announced that it has appointed Laura Kuykendall as VP of Marketing for BFY, and Gunther Brinkman as VP of Business Development for Ideal Snacks, the contract manufacturing division of BFY.
Nardone added, “We have moved quickly to build a top-notch senior team to work closely with me and Dan, and today we are excited to be adding two experienced and talented executives who will support our strategic goals. Laura is a consummate marketing professional with a demonstrated record of accomplishment at several health & wellness-focused CPG companies, and Gunther is a highly strategic executive with the relevant experience and perfect skill set needed to identify new opportunities to grow our contract manufacturing business. Dan, Laura and Gunther all add tremendous strength to the BFY team and we are all extremely motivated to make BFY a global leader in the fast-growing better-for-you snack category.”
Kuykendall has a wealth of experience driving brand strategy and marketing for a variety of natural and healthy food companies. Most recently, she was the Vice President and General Manager of Boulder Brands’ Gluten Free Brands, including Udi’s and Glutino, the #1 and #2 gluten free brands in North America. In that role she was responsible for directing all brand marketing and new product development activities, including brand strategy, innovation, research, pricing and forecasting. She has also held similar positions at Claridge Natural Foods, a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-priced gluten-free and allergy-friendly products, and Cherrybrook Kitchen, a producer of baking mix and ready-to-eat products that are allergy friendly. Earlier in her career she held marketing positions at a variety of CPG companies including Applegate Farms, Annie’s Homegrown and Snyder’s of Hanover.
Brinkman has a proven track record of helping companies develop, implement and execute their growth strategies. Recently he was the Vice President, Business Development for Interbake Foods LLC, a manufacturer of cookies and crackers. In that role he was responsible for the significant growth of the company’s contract manufacturing business, as well as managing the portfolio of co-manufacturers and co-packers and helping initiate and develop the in-store bakery business. Prior to that role he was Vice President, Innovation & Strategy at Interbake, where he led the company’s marketing, R&D, strategic planning, and business development. Previously he held a variety of marketing, information technology and operational roles at Interbake and one of its subsidiaries.
Morgan, who currently serves as Chairman of the Snack Food Association, the international trade association of the snack food industry, has over 27 years of relevant sales and management experience. Most recently, he was the Chief Sales Officer of Snyder's-Lance, Inc., a leading manufacturer and marketer of snack foods throughout the United States and internationally, where he was responsible for managing all the company’s direct store delivery (“DSD”), direct and export sales. Prior to that role, he held various other senior leadership positions at Snyder’s-Lance and one of its predecessor companies, Snyder’s of Hanover.
Before joining Snyder’s of Hanover in 2002, Mr. Morgan helped launch two successful food and snack companies, Patriot Snacks and before that, Bay State Snacks. At Patriot, he helped build the business by partnering with Snyder’s of Hanover to develop Patriot into a strong DSD snack company. At Bay State Snacks, he launched the Famous Amos cookie line in grocery accounts throughout Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He began his career at The Boston Popcorn Company where he helped establish and build the company from its inception.
“Dan is a widely-respected snack industry veteran and an innovative and effective leader, making him an outstanding addition to the BFY management team,” said Paul Nardone, Chief Executive Officer of BFY. “Having built two successful snack businesses from the ground-up before leading sales, distribution and operations for one of the preeminent companies in the snack industry, Dan is bringing a wealth of valuable experience, insights and relationships to BFY as we begin to execute our exciting growth plans. We are thrilled to have an individual of his caliber join our team as we ramp up our brand-building efforts, expand our distribution on a regional and national level and grow our contract manufacturing business.”
“This is an exciting time for PopCorners and all of BFY Holdings, and I feel fortunate to be joining a company with such phenomenal potential,” said Morgan. “Consumer preferences are reshaping the snacking industry in many ways, one of which is a profound shift towards healthier products. BFY is well-positioned to capitalize on that trend, not only because its products are better-for-you alternatives to traditional salty snacks but also because of their superior taste and crunch. I am looking forward to working closely with Paul and building a top-notch sales organization that will broaden and deepen our customer relationships, expand distribution and bring BFY’s snacks to more consumers.”
The company also announced that it has appointed Laura Kuykendall as VP of Marketing for BFY, and Gunther Brinkman as VP of Business Development for Ideal Snacks, the contract manufacturing division of BFY.
Nardone added, “We have moved quickly to build a top-notch senior team to work closely with me and Dan, and today we are excited to be adding two experienced and talented executives who will support our strategic goals. Laura is a consummate marketing professional with a demonstrated record of accomplishment at several health & wellness-focused CPG companies, and Gunther is a highly strategic executive with the relevant experience and perfect skill set needed to identify new opportunities to grow our contract manufacturing business. Dan, Laura and Gunther all add tremendous strength to the BFY team and we are all extremely motivated to make BFY a global leader in the fast-growing better-for-you snack category.”
Kuykendall has a wealth of experience driving brand strategy and marketing for a variety of natural and healthy food companies. Most recently, she was the Vice President and General Manager of Boulder Brands’ Gluten Free Brands, including Udi’s and Glutino, the #1 and #2 gluten free brands in North America. In that role she was responsible for directing all brand marketing and new product development activities, including brand strategy, innovation, research, pricing and forecasting. She has also held similar positions at Claridge Natural Foods, a leading manufacturer and marketer of premium-priced gluten-free and allergy-friendly products, and Cherrybrook Kitchen, a producer of baking mix and ready-to-eat products that are allergy friendly. Earlier in her career she held marketing positions at a variety of CPG companies including Applegate Farms, Annie’s Homegrown and Snyder’s of Hanover.
Brinkman has a proven track record of helping companies develop, implement and execute their growth strategies. Recently he was the Vice President, Business Development for Interbake Foods LLC, a manufacturer of cookies and crackers. In that role he was responsible for the significant growth of the company’s contract manufacturing business, as well as managing the portfolio of co-manufacturers and co-packers and helping initiate and develop the in-store bakery business. Prior to that role he was Vice President, Innovation & Strategy at Interbake, where he led the company’s marketing, R&D, strategic planning, and business development. Previously he held a variety of marketing, information technology and operational roles at Interbake and one of its subsidiaries.
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