The Supply Side briefs: ConAgra CEO retirement, Newly Weds acquisition

• ConAgra CEO to retire
Gary Rodkin, CEO of ConAgra Foods, will retire at the end of the company’s fiscal year in May 2015. The board has created a search committee to find his replacement.


“The board is extremely appreciative of Gary’s leadership, vision and accomplishments over his almost nine years as CEO of ConAgra Foods,” said Steven Goldstone, chairman of ConAgra Foods. “Under his stewardship, ConAgra Foods has transformed from a holding company into one unified company, with a well-balanced portfolio of consumer, commercial and private brand businesses, and strong operating capabilities. To achieve this transformation, Gary made necessary and bold moves with the company’s portfolio and drove significant cultural change throughout the business.”



Rodkin, 62, joined ConAgra Foods in October 2005. Prior to joining ConAgra, he was chairman and CEO of PepsiCo Beverages and Foods North America, where he led a $10 billion organization that included such brands as Pepsi, Gatorade, Quaker Foods and Tropicana. He joined PepsiCo in 1998 after it acquired Tropicana, where he had served as president since 1995.


“It is a great privilege to lead ConAgra Foods, and while I look forward to retirement, I will miss working alongside so many smart and talented people who I’ve watched grow tremendously in my nine years here,”Rodkin noted in a statement. 

ConAgra is a supplier of Wal-Mart Stores Inc. and operates a large sales office in Bentonville.

• Newly Weds Foods acquires seasoning business
Newly Weds Foods announced the purchase of New Jersey-based Continental Seasoning Inc. Terms of the agreement were not disclosed.

“Continental Seasoning has been a strong regional competitor and built a solid base of loyal customers over their 50 year history,” said Charles T. Angell, president of Newly Weds Foods. “Their customers have come to expect quality ingredients and a high level of support. Newly Weds Foods is very similar in how it has grown customer relationships.We look forward to servicing Continental Seasoning’s customers and their needs in a seamless and like fashion through the transition and long term. Along with effective organic sales-building activity, acquisitions like this are an important aspect of Newly Weds Foods’ aggressive growth strategy.”

Newly Weds Foods is a supplier to Wal-Mart Stores and operates a manufacturing facility in Springdale.