NASHVILLE, N.C.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Atlantic Natural Foods (ANF), the leading U.S. producer of shelf-stable
plant-based products and marketer of brands such as Loma Linda®
and its seafood alterative Tuno™, announced today four new executive and
management team hires as the company experiences unprecedented growth
and doubles down on its European market expansion.
“ANF owners and leadership remain committed to bringing together
industries’ top operational leaders to create and support the company as
we continue our rapid expansion,” said Atlantic Natural Foods founder
and chairman J. Douglas Hines. “As we approach $30 million in revenue
and march toward $50 million+ in the near future, we must build a team
of the most qualified professionals who not only want to change the
world but also know how.”
Effective immediately, William Soto will serve as Vice President of
General Manager Factory Operations. Soto joins the company from
Chicken of the Sea, where he oversaw the largest tuna operation in the
U.S. Soto had previously worked with the principals of the company’s
majority share owner All About Healthy Foods Holdings, LLC on other
projects in Trinidad, Fiji, Thailand, and Puerto Rico.
Former Bumble Bee Seafoods executive Gabe Montesano will serve as
Vice President Finance. Before serving in various finance roles at
Bumble Bee, Montesano worked at global consulting firm Protiviti, where
he crafted fiduciary reporting and management policies and procedures
for corporations seeking Sarbanes-Oxley Act compliance. Montesano
previously served on the global audit team of PricewaterhouseCoopers. He
is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA) with 15 years of experience in
Consumer Package Goods (CPG) methodology and execution.
Michael Duggan has been tapped as Vice President of Technical Services
and will oversee global quality and compliance in support of the
Atlantic footprint. Duggan is a SQF Food Safety Management practitioner
and Hazard Analysis and Critical Control Point (HACCP) certifier with
more than 25 years of experience.
Finally, the company welcomes Amanda Lopez as E-commerce Sales and
Marketing Manager. Lopez brings a diverse background including
wireless communications operation management, product sales and
marketing management. She also has wide experience in managing affiliate
sales, search engine optimization (SEO), website management,
coordination of third-party e-commerce sales and fulfillment, marketing
and logistics projects, Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP)
implementation and sales.
The creation and wide acceptance of the company’s Loma Linda®
Tuno™ and meal solutions in 2018/2019 exceeded market expectations with
distribution now in 10,000 stores across North America, the U.K. and
Australia, as well as 17 other countries.
This demand creates the company’s need to expand its infrastructure,
which includes the addition of a new ERP platform (slated for a July
2019 launch) and a new supply chain matrix provider that can reach new
marketplaces. The final stage of the Nashville, North Carolina, factory
consolidation will be completed by May, which includes new operational
equipment. The company also has created a Joint Venture under a
Memorandum of Understanding in Thailand to support and service the
global market.
“With new products and sizes in the pipeline for late 2019 and 2020, our
goal remains the same – create products that are healthy, affordable,
portable, and taste great while doing right by the human body and our
planet,” Hines said. “I’m confident that this team has the experience
and passion that will help us meet and exceed that goal.”
About Atlantic Natural Foods
Headquartered in Nashville, NC, Atlantic Natural Foods is the leading
shelf-stable manufacturer and provider of Loma Linda®, Neat®
and Kaffree Roma™ brand products. Its mission is to provide affordable,
sustainable and healthy sources of plant-based protein food for all
lifestyles and people to live healthier, longer lives. The company
operates its own manufacturing facility in North Carolina, as well as a
joint venture project in Thailand. The brands are sold throughout the
U.S. and in 17 countries, including U.K. and Australia. To learn more
about Atlantic Natural Foods visit www.atlanticnaturalfoods.com.
