Mizkan Launches New Leadership Structure to Promote Global Sales Growth

MT. PROSPECT, Ill., Jan. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Mizkan Americas, a leading condiment manufacturer, today announced organizational changes for Mizkan Americas, Mizkan Europe, and Border Foods, Inc. ® to provide a new leadership structure that will deliver sustainable global growth for the company.

"This is an exciting time for Mizkan as we continue to grow our business in spite of the challenging economic landscape throughout North America and Europe," said Craig Smith, President of Mizkan EuroAmericas. "With these recent changes in management responsibilities, I am confident that we are poised to further broaden our success throughout North America and Europe."

Randy Clark will assume the Chairman position of the newly formed Border Foods Advisory Board.  Clark retired from his full-time position as President and CEO of Border Foods, effective Dec. 31, 2011. During the past four years, he was instrumental in the growth, stabilization and exceptional performance of Border Foods, while also leading the transition team during Mizkan America's acquisition of Border Foods in May 2011. Clark will continue to work with Mizkan in an executive capacity on a part-time basis.

Michael Smith was promoted to Executive Vice President of Sales/Border Foods, and will assume the overall P&L responsibility for Border Foods, with Bob Gats reporting directly to him. Smith will retain his current sales responsibilities of Food Service, Retail, and the incorporation of the Border Sales Staff by Branded Sales Business Units (SBU) into current Mizkan SBUs.

Bob Gats assumes the new senior leadership role of General Manager of Border Foods. In his role, Gats accepts responsibility for all Border Co-Pack sales, and undertakes the additional General Manager responsibilities, including Agriculture, Scheduling, Quality, Compliance, Warehouse, Inventory Management, Customer Service and Human Resources.

Dennis Dedmond was promoted to Executive Vice President of Marketing, and has assumed the overall P&L responsibility for Mizkan Europe, with Andrew Cartwright reporting directly to him. Dedmond will retain his current responsibilities, including Marketing, Japanese Sales, Brand Management, and Strategic Plan Development.

Matthew Moore assumes the role of Senior Vice President, Food Ingredients, where he is responsible for Border Foods' substantial portfolio of Food Ingredients sales, together with all Food Ingredient sales for Mizkan Americas. He will retain his leadership responsibilities as President of Creole Fermentation.

Tom Egan will take on the direct responsibility of the manufacturing facility for Border Foods in Deming, N.M., in addition to his current role as Senior Vice President of Operations. Egan is responsible for Production, Engineering, Purchasing, and Maintenance at the Deming Facility through July 2012. He appointed Jay Rex as the interim Plant Manager.

Tom Baker was promoted to Vice President, Group Controller of Mizkan EuroAmericas, where he is responsible for the accounting functions within Mizkan Americas, Mizkan Europe, and Border Foods. Robert Lambert, Controller of Border Foods, and Jayne Morris, Finance Director for Mizkan Europe, will report to Baker.

Mizkan Americas is a leading condiment producer in the United States, selling across all channels of trade including branded retail, private label retail, food service, and food ingredients.  Mizkan Americas leading retail condiment brands include Holland House® cooking wines, Nakano® rice vinegars, World Harbors® marinades and sauces and Border Foods®, the nation's oldest and most established processors of green chile, jalapeno and tomatillo peppers and manufacturers of enchilada sauces for both the branded and private label markets. Mizkan is a leading Asian condiment supplier in the retail and foodservice channels of trade.  Mizkan's food ingredients division supplies ingredients to numerous well known food manufacturers across several categories.

About Mizkan Americas

Mizkan Americas is a subsidiary of Mizkan Group and has a heritage in the condiment business that spans over 200 years.  The company is a leading manufacturer of condiments in the United States with 14 manufacturing plants that serve the retail, foodservice, specialty Asian and food ingredient trade channels. Since 2005, Mizkan Americas has seen dramatic growth due to the acquisition of Holland House® cooking wines, the Specialty Division of Imperial Brands and World Harbors Marinades & Sauces.  Mizkan Americas produces a wide variety of vinegars, mustards, cooking wines, wine reductions, sushi seasoning, jellies, salad dressings, Asian sauces and other liquid condiments. Mizkan Brands include Holland House, NAKANO®, Four Monks®, Barengo®, Mitsukan®, World Harbors® and Boarder Foods®. For more information about Mizkan Americas, please visit www.mizkan.com.

About The Mizkan Group

The Mizkan Group, a global food manufacturer, is the parent company of Mizkan Americas, Inc. The Mizkan Group is a 200-year old privately held international food manufacturer, based in Handa City, Japan.  The Mizkan Group has a stable of well-known international brands, under the "mizkan" umbrella brand and is a leader in the liquid condiment category.  The Mizkan Group has operating facilities around the globe, including Japan, China, the United Kingdom, the United States, Thailand, Singapore, Hong Kong & Taiwan.

SOURCE Mizkan Americas