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GoodSAM Foods Announces Multiple Hires

GoodSAM Foods, a healthy snack food brand with a commitment to sustainability and regenerative agriculture, announced multiple new hires including Kari Janapareddi as director of sales, Sara Galeano as director of sustainability and Ryan Siwinski as director of U.S. operations.

Marcia Bell

The company also has added Marcia Bell as chief operating officer starting in March after nearly a year as a consultant.

“Taking on this role allows me to work with an incredible team, developing responsibly-sourced, sustainable supply chains in a direct-trade system that will contribute to supporting our planet,” Bell said. “Our commitment to these choices will have a deep and lasting impact in the beautiful communities that have opened not only their farms to us, but their hearts as well.”
The announcements mark the brand’s continued global growth and team expansion around the world. In addition to leadership expansion, GoodSAM announced that Louise Kibugi will serve as executive Coordinator, stationed in Nairobi, Kenya, effective immediately. Each member of the GoodSAM team contributes to the overall mission of being good for the planet and creating sustainable impact in the food industry.

“There is nothing more exciting as a founder and entrepreneur than watching your team grow as the company grows,” said GoodSAM Founder & CEO, Heather K. Terry. “My vision for this company is extensive and will take a seasoned, forward-thinking, and diverse team to accomplish it.

“Fundamentally upending the food system as we know it, investing and driving growth in regenerative agriculture will take massive alignment, action, and an unrelenting commitment to sustainability and farmers.  I believe we are shaping the team at GoodSAM Foods to take that challenge head-on.”

  • Kari Janapareddi

    Kari Janapareddi (Director of Sales, USA): Kari joins GoodSAM with over 12 years of CPG experience, including seven years working in the chocolate category at Taza Chocolate out of Boston, Mass. She has lived in Boston, Austin and San Francisco and formed relationships with several stellar broker, distributor and retailer partners. Most recently, she was national sales manager at NuttZo where she helped expand the company’s footprint into key natural, conventional and mass market accounts.  \

  • Sara Galeano

    Sara Galeano (Director of Sustainability, Colombia): A communicator by profession, Galeano decided to change careers to follow her passion for making the world a better place. She has more than four years of experience dedicated to building and strengthening sustainable organizations with significant social, environmental, and economic impact. She has also worked to improve the living conditions of rural communities in Colombia, with more than 30 agricultural associations in 12 regions of the country, from the private sector and an NGO. With a history of leading the funding of resources and participating in building environmental, entrepreneurship, education, art, and cultural projects with rural communities in her native country, Galeano hopes to create a greater impact by creating lasting solutions with GoodSAM.

  • Ryan Siwinski

    Ryan Siwinski (Director of US Operations, USA): Ryan holds a B.S. in Operations & Supply Chain Management from Drexel University in Philadelphia. After college, Ryan navigated down a path of various food and agriculture experiences to fully understand the industry from the ground up. He began by launching a small-scale meal prep startup at Drexel University followed by an abundance of agriculture experiences as a farmer, livestock consultant, and regenerative agriculture advocate. His on-farm experience at Tussock Sedge Farm, White Oak Pastures and Rodale Institute has helped him gain extensive knowledge in all aspects of regenerative agriculture systems. Ryan’s career goals are to fully engage in building and managing supply chains that contribute to producing high-quality food with a major emphasis on positive ecological outcomes.

  • Marcia Bell

    Marcia Bell (Chief Operations Officer): Marcia brings over 20 years of operations & logistics leadership expertise. She has far-reaching experience in operations, as evidenced by program development, streamlining operating efficiencies, and developing exceptional teams through senior leadership roles in CPG companies in the natural products industry. Before joining GoodSAM, Mrs. Bell spent several years as Director of Operations for NibMor Chocolate and, most recently, for Eco-Kids in Portland, Maine. Marcia is dedicated to supporting the CEO, her vision, and initiatives across the organization. She is honored to have the opportunity to work with a devoted team committed to igniting positive worldwide impact.

Read more about GoodSAM Foods in the October issue of Gourmet News. So you don’t miss it, subscribe today!

Standard Meat Promotes Tom Allen to Chief Operating Officer

Eight-year Standard Meat Company veteran Tom Allen is the new chief operating officer, said Ben Rosenthal, co-president and CEO of the Dallas-Fort Worth-based meat company.

Standard Meat is a family-owned meat processing and packaging company with plants in Dallas, Fort Worth, Saginaw and Ponder, Texas. The company is a global supplier of custom meat portioning and packaging solutions for the foodservice and retail industries.

“Tom has done an incredible job with our Saginaw facility,” said Rosenthal. “Beginning in 2014, he served as the vice president and general manager of the facility, during which sales have almost quadrupled. His experience led us to tremendous growth in Saginaw; now, his insight and vision will focus on our entire operation and not a single facility.”

As chief operating officer, Allen will oversee all company operations. His focus will ensure the facilities operate efficiently and effectively and are on track with Standard Meat’s strategic goals.

As part of senior leadership, Allen will lead the development of Standard Meat’s five-year strategic growth plan. He will ensure the company’s ongoing and future success across all facilities and within individual departments.

“Tom had extraordinary experience in the meat industry before joining us at Standard Meat Company,” said Ashli Rosenthal Blumenfeld, co-president. “He has worked in many of the most important meat-producing locations across North America. His stellar performance in Saginaw is only a preview of what he will do as chief operating officer.”

Before joining Standard Meat, Allen worked for Cargill, ultimately leading a pair of beef processing facilities. In those facilities, he supervised thousands of employees and oversaw harvesting as many as 6,000-head of cattle per day. Allen holds a bachelor of science in business degree from Oklahoma State University.

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KC Chief Travis Kelce, Hy-Vee Team Up for Kelce’s Krunch

Hy-Vee, Inc. has released an exclusive new cereal, Kelce’s Krunch, created in partnership with Travis Kelce and the 87 & Running Foundation that began appearing on store shelves in the Kansas City area beginning Aug 13.

Kelce’s Krunch will be available in select Hy-Vee stores throughout the Kansas City area and only for a limited time while supplies last.

This limited-edition collector’s product is expected to raise $18,500 for the 87 & Running Foundation. The Foundation helps underserved youth strive to become productive citizens by mentoring and motivating them to explore and develop their abilities while learning critical life skills.

“Travis Kelce is a true inspiration both on and off the field,” said Matt Nickell, vice president, sports marketing for Hy-Vee. “His dedication to not only his team but also the Kansas City community is why we are excited to partner with him and the 87 & Running Foundation to launch this new cereal, while providing much-needed support for Kansas City-area youth.”

“As a kid, I grew up looking at my favorite athletes on cereal boxes, so now to have my own in collaboration with Hy-Vee is exciting! With each box of Kelce’s Krunch sold, a donation will be made to my foundation 87 & Running serving the youth in Kansas City,” said Travis Kelce, tight end for the Kansas City Chiefs. “Hy-Vee is an incredible partner, and I am looking forward to bringing more impactful community initiatives to life with them. Let’s go Chiefs Kingdom!”

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