Gourmet News

AMCON Acquires Foodservice Distributor Henry’s Foods

Published December 12, 2022

AMCON Distributing Company, an Omaha, Neb.-based convenience distributor is pleased to announce the acquisition of foodservice distributor Henry’s Foods, Inc., of Alexandria, Minn.

“We are honored that Brian Eidsvold and the Eidsvold family have chosen AMCON to continue the legacy and stewardship of their family held business that was established by Henry Eidsvold in 1929,” said Christopher H. Atayan, AMCON’s chairman and chief executive officer.”

The Henry’s foodservice distributor business and name will continue in the marketplace and the business will operate as a wholly owned subsidiary of AMCON. Kellie Janssen will continue to lead the business in her role as President of Henry’s.

“Henry’s is the preeminent provider of high-quality foodservice to the convenience distribution industry and will add important new offerings and expertise that we can bring to our customer base,” said Andrew C. Plummer, AMCON’s president and chief operating officer. “We also look forward to sharing the customer-centered suite of services that AMCON has developed to add value for Henry’s customers. Kellie Janssen’s unwavering commitment and dedication to customer service is a shared value between AMCON and Henry’s and is ultimately the foundation to build an exciting business for the future.”

“Our organization is excited about this transaction as together we will be able to add increased capabilities for Henry’s customers,” said Kellie Janssen, president of Henry’s. “We now have the enhanced facilities, capacity and geographic reach to serve our customers as they grow. AMCON shares our respect for a positive and collaborative work environment among colleagues which is another key element of our success. This made AMCON the ideal partner for the growth of our business.”

The transaction is expected to close in the company’s second quarter of fiscal 2023, subject to customary closing conditions.

AMCON is a leading convenience distributor of consumer products, including beverages, candy, tobacco, groceries, foodservice, frozen and refrigerated foods, automotive supplies and health and beauty care products with distribution centers in Illinois, Missouri, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Tennessee and West Virginia (operated by its Team Sledd, LLC subsidiary). AMCON, through its Healthy Edge Retail Group, also operates 19 health and natural product retail stores in the Midwest and Florida.

For news of interest to the foodservice industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.

Artisinal Cheese Company Sartori Names Bert Satori as CEO

Published December 9, 2022

Artisinal cheese company Sartori Cheese names Bert Sartori its new CEO, the company has ushered in the fourth generation of family leadership in its storied 83-year history.

Satori’s father, Jim Sartori, represented the third generation of Sartori family leadership while holding the CEO role for nearly three decades. While Bert Sartori is poised to add a unique creative vision for the artisinal cheese company’s future, he looks to honor and maintain the commitment to the cheesemaking craft that Sartori Cheese has built over the previous three generations.

“Sartori Cheese has always represented a culture of cheesemaking that celebrates creativity, passion, and authenticity,” said Bert Sartori. “I’m proud to lead a company anchored in tradition while pushing the boundaries of our craft so we can share new-to-the-world, award-worthy cheeses with people across the globe.”

Bert Sartori holds an MBA from Kellogg School of Management at Northwestern University, is a licensed cheesemaker and has over 17 years of progressive experience in finance, operations, and business development. Sartori’s longevity and diversity of experience give him invaluable insight into every aspect of the cheesemaking business. His vision for the company’s future is centered around a continued partnership with Wisconsin’s best dairy farms and a steadfast commitment to the craft of cheesemaking.

Sartori Cheese is proud to have four dozen licensed cheesemakers, including one of only two female Master Cheesemakers in Wisconsin. The company’s commitment to cultivating passionate cheesemakers is further highlighted by a best-in-class apprenticeship program that helps candidates hone their skills during the final steps of their training.

“Making great cheese starts with exceptional people – and we’re excited to continue investing in the talented, dedicated members of our team,” said Sartori.

Sartori was founded in 1939 by Bert Sartori’s great-grandfather, Paolo, an Italian immigrant. Bert Sartori ’s grandfather, Joe, preceded his father, Jim, as the leader of the business. The company has grown from its dozen team members at the time of its founding to more than 900 today as it delights cheese lovers in over 50 countries worldwide.

For news of interest to the dairy industry and artisinal cheese, subscribe to Gourmet News.

Grocery Industry Veteran Fenyo Joins Grabango as CMO

Published December 9, 2022

Ken Fenyo has joined Grabango as the first chief marketing officer for the checkout-free technology company. Previously a senior executive at Kroger and CEO of digital coupon pioneer YOU Technology, Fenyo is a grocery industry veteran and recognized expert who brings decades of experience working at the intersection of retail and technology.

“Ken’s appointment as CMO marks an important step in Grabango’s journey, as well as a vote of confidence in our technology and market leadership,” said Will Glaser, CEO, and founder of Grabango. “Ken has a proven track record creating and scaling transformative technology for retail and grocery, which makes him perfectly suited to lead Grabango marketing as we usher in a better and more convenient way to shop.”

As the only technology provider delivering an enterprise-class, checkout-free solution suitable for operation in existing stores, Grabango works with major retailers, including bp, Chevron, Circle K, and Mapco, to deliver a next-generation retail experience for shoppers. As CMO, Fenyo’s focus is on scaling Grabango’s network of checkout-free enabled stores and shaping a delightful, new experience for grocery and convenience store shoppers.

“Checkout-free is the future of retail, and it’s clear that Grabango is the only player in the market right now with the technology and expertise to make it an everyday reality,” said Fenyo. “I am a firm believer that retailers have a huge opportunity to transform their businesses with frictionless technology. I am thrilled to join the team with the most innovative and scalable solution.”

Fenyo joins Grabango from Coresight Research, where, as president, research & advisory he delivered data-driven insights on retail and technology, led the advisory business, and accelerated growth for his retail clients. At McKinsey & Company, Fenyo led Consumer Markets for Fuel, McKinsey’s startup practice. Fenyo was previously CEO of the cloud-based digital coupon and loyalty platform YOU Technology, where he built the business into the retail industry’s largest incentive network with clients including Kroger, Wakefern, Fresh Direct, and more. As VP of Loyalty & Digital at The Kroger Co., Fenyo created the industry’s first digital coupon program, launched the Kroger rewards loyalty program, and overhauled its $100 million+ personalized marketing program.

Fenyo is a well-known retail industry expert who regularly is quoted in media such as The Wall Street Journal, Bloomberg and more and speaks at industry events, including Groceryshop, Shoptalk, NACS, and the FMI Midwinter Executive Conference.

Grabango leverages pure computer vision technology developed by leading experts in the field to offer a fully contactless shopping experience. Grabango’s checkout-free solution eliminates shrink, increases store capacity, and boosts shopper loyalty. In addition, the technology installs easily without any interruption to store operations, doesn’t require changes to store layout or product mix, and doesn’t require special carts or gates.

For news of interest to the grocery industry, subscribe to Gourmet News.