Smithfield Foods Inc. appoints Michael Brown president, COO of Farmland Foods Inc. Also this week: Tyson Foods, Inc., General Mills Foodservice, Ben E. Keith, McCormick For Chefs — Food Away From Home Division of McCormick & Co., Fisher Manufacturing, Marriner Marketing Communications, and Wilbur Curtis Co.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Smithfield Foods, Inc., named Michael E. Brown president and chief operating officer of its subsidiary, Farmland Foods, Inc. The appointment is effective immediately. Most recently, Brown served as president of Armour-Eckrich, LLC. He has nearly 30 years of experience in the food industry. In his new role, Brown will be responsible for heading up all aspects of the business, including sales and marketing, operations, quality, food safety, finance and accounting, human resources and procurement. Brown reports to George H. Richter, president and chief operating officer of the Pork Group.
ATLANTA — Tyson Foods, Inc., said it plans to donate more than 10,000 lbs. of chicken to three metro Atlanta groups: Atlanta Community Food Bank, the Redan High School Culinary Program and Teens at Work. Tyson said it will provide 5,000 lbs. of frozen chicken to the Atlanta Community Food Bank, 2,500 lbs. to the Hospitality and Culinary Arts Academy of Redan High School, and 2,500 lbs. to Teens at Work.
MINNEAPOLIS — General Mills Foodservice has awarded grants of up to $3,000 each to 42 K-12 schools through the National Dairy Council’s Child Nutrition and Fitness Initiative Breakfast Grant programs. The company distributed a total of $100,000 in funding designated to help schools build or expand their breakfast programs. The grant program was open to schools enrolled in the “Fuel to Play 60,” a partnership between National Dairy Council and the National Football League, in collaboration with the USDA, to empower kids to improve nutrition and physical activity at their school and for their own health.
HUNT VALLEY, Md. — Ben E. Keith Foods, the eighth-largest broadline foodservice distributor, honored McCormick For Chefs — Food Away From Home Division of McCormick & Co. with the overall 2010 Supplier of the Year Award. Ben E. Keith said the criteria for the award is based on how a company works with the Fort Worth, Texas-based distributor to support its marketing efforts, participation in food shows and sales meetings, training and tools for the sales force, on-time delivery of products, and the ability to drive overall performance and results, among other things.
TULARE, Calif. — Fisher Manufacturing, which specializes in commercial plumbing equipment for the foodservice industry, honored Jeff Westley, vice president of sales, on his 25th anniversary with the firm. The company honored Westley for helping to create and instill Fisher’s reputation for innovative plumbing applications, product expertise and exemplary customer service.
COLUMBIA, Md. — Marriner Marketing Communications added to its foodservice expertise by naming Dawn Riley to its account service team. Riley has more than 20 years of experience in foodservice marketing and will be responsible for managing integrated communication efforts as account manager for Perdue Farms. Previously, she worked for U.S. Foodservice as director of corporate marketing.
ATLANTA — The National Association of Convenience Stores has named Frank McCarter, regional vice president of sales for the Wilbur Curtis Co., to its 2010-2011 supplier board. McCarter joined Curtis in 1996 as territory manager and has served in various positions with the company over the years.