Hickory Farms Announces New Leadership Appointments

TOLEDO, Ohio, May 15, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Hickory Farms, the specialty food and holiday gift retailer based in Toledo, Ohio, today announced a number of changes to the company's executive team in support of its mission to become the best specialty food retailer in North America.

The company announced that Michael Holton, previously vice president of brand marketing, has been appointed chief marketing officer; Joe Loch, previously vice president of supply chain has been appointed vice president of franchise and retail sales; Ty Hanline, previously director of logistics, has been appointed vice president of supply chain; and Joe Herman, from Davenport, Hanf & Company has joined as interim chief financial officer.

"I am excited to announce these appointments as the combined talents of these high achieving professionals will strengthen our dynamic senior management team," said Mark S. Rodriguez, CEO, Hickory Farms, Inc.

Holton first joined Hickory Farms in 2002 as manager of consumer/ trade marketing and rose to vice president of brand marketing in 2009. He was instrumental in the total refresh of the Hickory Farms brand aesthetic and the development of the digital strategy.  As CMO, Holton will now be responsible for overseeing all elements of the marketing mix and all aspects of the consumer brand experience.  He also serves as Hickory Farms' lead supporter of Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry® Campaign, the leading national program working to end child hunger in America.

In his new position, Loch will lead the Hickory Farms retail sales team and over 4,500 seasonal associates in their pursuit of excellence through a network of 750 kiosks the company operates each holiday season.  Previous to his new role, Loch was hired at Hickory Farms in 2009 as the vice president of supply chain where he successfully led the reengineering of all processes to deliver fresher, higher quality products to our customers. He served on the executive board for the American Heart Association's Heart Walk – Northwest, Ohio and is active as a director for the University of Toledo Men's Lacrosse Club.

Hanline was first hired in 2006 at Hickory Farms as the director of logistics before being appointed to vice president of supply chain.  During his tenure the logistics team has successfully transformed the company's distribution and storage network to achieve 99% on-time deliveries while at the same time significantly lowering cost. He is also active in the community and works with Read for Literacy, youth sports, and various charities throughout the year.

Herman recently joined Hickory Farms from a client service firm specializing in financial, operational and organizational development. Prior to Davenport, Hanf & Company, Herman served as CFO and treasurer for Therma-Tru Corporation where he led the restructuring and growth of several divisions within the organization including finance, information technology, customer service and sales.  Herman's community involvement includes supporting the Diocese of Toledo on long term planning and implementation for the ministry of Catholic Schools. 

About Hickory Farms
Hickory Farms is a leading provider of specialty foods and holiday food gifts. A focus on personalized service has kept Hickory Farms products popular on gift lists since 1951. Millions of North American customers choose Hickory Farms' savory sausages, favorite cheeses and other gourmet goods for their loved ones each holiday season. The company's signature products and eco-friendly gift boxes can be found online, in catalogs, in leading supermarkets and in retail shopping centers throughout the holiday season. For more information, please visit http://www.hickoryfarms.com.

SOURCE Hickory Farms