LOCAL food conglomerate GraceKennedy has announced senior management staff changes as it moves quickly to consolidate its recent US$26 million purchase of the operating assets and brand of USA food business, La Fe Foods Incorporated.

Michael Ranglin has been appointed president and chief executive officer of GraceKennedy Foods (USA) LLC, while retaining his substantive position as the CEO of the GK Foods Division. Ranglin will now be based in New Jersey. Prior to his appointment as divisional CEO, Ranglin also served in the capacity of CEO Grace Foods UK, a position he held for over three years.

Ryan Mack, who was recently appointed deputy CEO of GK Foods, will assume oversight for Grace Foods and Services and Manufacturing, while Andrea Coy, senior general

manager, Global Category Management, will have oversight responsibility for the Hi-Lo Supermarket chain and World Brands.

Commenting on the senior management changes, GraceKennedy Group CEO Don Webhy said: “The GK Foods team is ready to execute on the strategy focusing on growth in both the international and domestic foods businesses.”

La Fe Foods Incorporated was established in 1968, and currently has revenues of approximately US$80 million. It has operations in Moonachie, New Jersey; Miami, Florida; and Raleigh, North Carolina, with brand and distribution presence in the New York/Tri-state area, Florida, Georgia, and the East Coast of the United States.

La Fe is said to be the top Hispanic brand in the frozen food category.

The La Fe transaction is the second major acquisition for GraceKennedy outside of Jamaica for the Foods Division, with the first being the acquisition of WT Foods (now Grace Foods UK) in the UK in 2007.