Flower Foods has promoted Allen L. Shiver to president of the company. Also this week: Unified Brands, A la Cart Inc., Niman Ranch, Kold-Draft, XLT Ovens, Caffe Classico Foods LLC and Clean Seas Tuna Ltd.
THOMASVILLE, Ga. -- Flowers Foods has named Allen L. Shiver president of the company, effective Jan. 1. Current chairman, chief executive and president George E. Deese will continue to serve as Flowers' chairman and CEO. Shiver, who has 30 years of experience with Flowers Foods, most recently was executive vice president and chief marketing officer. As president he will provide oversight for operations and have involvement in strategic growth planning. In other company news, Flower Foods' board of directors has elected David V. Singer to its board. Singer is president and chief executive of Lance Inc., a publicly traded snack foods manufacturer based in Charlotte, N.C.
JACKSON, Miss. -- Unified Brands said it acquired A la Cart Inc., a privately held company based in Charlotte, N.C. A la Cart specializes in the manufacturing of advanced foodservice patient meal-delivery systems for the health care industry. An operating company of Dover Corp., Unified product lines include Groen, Randell and Avtec.
ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Niman Ranch has named Andrew Hunter executive chef. Hunter previously worked for Wolfgang Puck Worldwide, where he served as vice president of culinary development. He is currently president of Culinary Craft, a company specializing in culinary development services for chefs, restaurateurs and retailers.
CLEVELAND -- Kold-Draft, which makes ice machines, has named Timothy W. Bethuy director of engineering. In his new role, Bethuy will be responsible for leading engineering development from concept to production. He has more than 25 years of design engineering experience and is responsible for more than 11 patents.
WICHITA, Kan. -- XLT Ovens won the Little Caesars' Blue Line vendor award for 2008-2009. XLT is the only vendor to win the award three years in a row. Blue Line president Matt Illich said that XLT Ovens, which are manufactured by Wolfe Electric, have helped hold pricing for the past five years in support of the Little Caesars Hot & Ready $5 pizza program.
CONCORD, Calif. -- Caffe Classico Foods LLC has named Andrew Branagh chief executive. Caffe Classico said Branagh's appointment is part of the company's efforts to restructure operations, refocus on customer care, and increase awareness of its Gelato Classico, Sorbetto Classico and Belizza brands. Branagh most recently was president and chief executive of Mozzarella Fresca Inc., which was sold to Lactalis in 2007.
NEW YORK -- Australian acquaculture firm Clean Seas Tuna Ltd. has launched a recipe contest in partnership with the Milestone Culinary Arts Center in Dallas. The contest, which is open to any working chef or culinary student 18 years or older in the United States and Canada, asks contestants to submit an original recipe using raw, cooked or smoked preparations of Clean Seas Yellowtail Kingfish, or Hiramasa. Three prizewinners each will be named from the eastern and western regions. First prize is $2,000, second is $1,000, and third is $500. A panel of judges will select the grand prizewinner at a cook-off between the two first-place winners at the Milestone Culinary Arts Center. The winner will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Australia to visit Clean Seas. For more information, see www.cleanseas.com.au/win-a-trip-to-australia.html.
