Ex-kraft Heinz Executive Adam Butler Joins Second Nature Brands As Ceo

Kar’s Nuts marque owned by Second Nature Brands. Credit: The Image Party/Shutterstock

Second Nature Brands, nan US-based snacks and treats business that has bolstered its portfolio done M&A, has named Adam Butler arsenic its caller CEO.

Former Kraft Heinz executive Butler, who will return connected nan domiciled astatine nan CapVest Partners-backed institution successful August, replaces Vic Mehren. He has been CEO astatine nan Kar’s Nuts way mixes marque proprietor since 2019.

Butler astir precocious headed up Insignia International, which antecedently traded arsenic Flagship Food Group until a sanction alteration past year, and had besides engaged successful M&A done assets specified arsenic La Tortilla Factory and Young Guns.

Butler said of his appointment: “Second Nature Brands has a beardown portfolio, a talented team, and a clear imagination for nan future. I look guardant to building connected nan beardown instauration Vic has laid and moving pinch nan awesome squad to realise nan company’s eager maturation plans.”

In a statement, Mehren was credited pinch taking Second Nature Brands from a $190m business to a “snacking leader pinch a modern portfolio of brands, expanded operational scale, and a strengthened instauration for growth”.

Backed by CapVest since 2022, existent income were put astatine astir $500m.

Second Nature Brands struck a hefty woody past twelvemonth for nan Voortman cookies marque bought from US nutrient peer JMSmucker for $305m, on pinch a mill and 300-odd employees.

Voortman cookies income were put astatine $65m astatine nan time.

In different transactions, Michigan-headquartered Second Nature Brands acquired Sahale Snacks from Smucker nan erstwhile twelvemonth for $24m, and successful 2022, nan institution snapped up Brownie Brittle.

“We’ve built thing genuinely typical – an unthinkable team, a values-driven culture, and a business that’s positioned to support winning,” nan departing Mehren said.

“I’m proud of what we’ve achieved together and assured that now is nan correct clip to walk nan baton. Adam is nan correct leader to return SNB into its adjacent chapter, and I’m excited to support him done a soft transition.”

Mehren will assistance Butler successful a modulation process done nan remainder of July.

Butler spent much than 17 years astatine Kraft Heinz, including a play earlier nan 2015 merger of Kraft Foods and HJ Heinz.

He was president of Kraft Heinz’s Canada business earlier leaving for Insignia, and besides held nan aforesaid domiciled astatine nan US snacks and drinks business.