Armanino Foods of Distinction, Inc. Announces Appointment of New CEO
Armanino Foods of Distinction, Inc. (OTCQX: AMNF) has announced the appointment of Deanna Jurgens as the company’s new President and Chief Executive Officer, effective May 12, 2025. In addition to her role as CEO, Ms. Jurgens will also join the company’s Board of Directors, marking the beginning of an exciting new chapter for Armanino Foods.
With a wealth of leadership experience and a proven track record in driving business growth, Ms. Jurgens is well-positioned to guide Armanino Foods through its next phase of development and expansion. Throughout her career, she has demonstrated a remarkable ability to scale businesses globally, build strong customer partnerships, and lead companies in both foodservice and retail markets.
Ms. Jurgens brings to Armanino a wealth of experience in the food industry. Most recently, she served as the Chief Sales Officer at Bonduelle Americas, where she was responsible for overseeing the company’s $650 million fresh food business. During her tenure, Ms. Jurgens successfully led the business through a strategy that combined customer acquisition, innovation, expansion, and cost management. As a result, Bonduelle Americas achieved its largest share gains in five years, driving substantial profitability and strengthening its position in the marketplace.
Before her time at Bonduelle Americas, Ms. Jurgens held the role of President of North America and Global Chief Growth Officer at Beyond Meat. In this capacity, she was instrumental in growing the company’s international business by forging key partnerships with global giants like McDonald’s and YUM Brands. She also helped expand Beyond Meat’s presence in the U.S. through a joint venture with PepsiCo focused on plant-based jerky, which resulted in a dominant market share within just one year. Earlier in her career, Ms. Jurgens spent 16 years at PepsiCo, where she was deeply involved in leading operations in the company’s largest region, generating over $3 billion in annual revenue. Additionally, she worked closely with major U.S. retailers, including Walmart, Target, and Sam’s Club.
Ms. Jurgens’ leadership and contributions to the food industry have not gone unnoticed. She has received numerous accolades throughout her career, including being named to Fortune’s prestigious list of “Most Powerful Women – Next Gen.” These recognitions reflect her ability to drive growth and innovation in competitive markets and her capacity for building strong, collaborative partnerships with major industry players.
Douglas R. Nichols, Chairman of the Board of Armanino Foods, expressed his enthusiasm about the appointment, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Deanna Jurgens as our new President and CEO. Her extensive experience in the food industry, particularly in leadership roles at Bonduelle Americas and Beyond Meat, demonstrates her ability to deliver exceptional growth, foster innovation, and build strong customer relationships. Her strategic vision and proven track record of successfully scaling brands globally make her an ideal fit to lead Armanino Foods into its next phase of growth and innovation. I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Director James Ford for his leadership during the CEO search process, as well as Al Banisch and Tony Muscato for their thorough evaluation of the many outstanding candidates we considered.
Mr. Nichols concluded his statement by emphasizing the importance of this appointment for the company’s future: “This decision to hire Deanna represents a commitment to building on Armanino’s strong legacy and passionate foundation. We are excited to move forward under her leadership.”
For her part, Ms. Jurgens expressed her excitement and gratitude for the opportunity, stating, “I am honored and excited to take on the role of CEO at Armanino Foods. The company has an incredible foundation for growth, and I look forward to working alongside our talented team, suppliers, and customers to further broaden our reach, build upon the Armanino tradition, and ensure our success for years to come.”
Armanino Foods of Distinction, Inc. is an international food company that specializes in manufacturing and marketing a wide range of frozen Italian specialty food items. These products are distributed across the foodservice, retail, and industrial markets. Armanino’s offerings include a variety of pesto flavors such as classic Basil Pesto, Cilantro, Dried Tomato & Garlic, Roasted Red Bell Pepper, Southwest Chipotle, and others. In addition to pesto, the company provides sauces, frozen pastas, cheese shakers, and meatballs. Armanino is also proud to offer an organic line of products, including its classic Basil Pesto.
With its commitment to quality, innovation, and customer satisfaction, Armanino Foods is poised for continued success under the leadership of Ms. Jurgens. The company’s diverse product portfolio and strong market presence provide a solid foundation for future growth, and Ms. Jurgens’ strategic guidance will be essential in driving the company forward.
Cautionary Statements Regarding Forward-Looking Information
This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Armanino Foods’ future financial performance and market trends. These statements are based on the company’s current expectations, estimates, and assumptions, and they are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by these forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties may include economic factors such as changes in consumer confidence and discretionary spending, the continued impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, commodity price volatility, competition, supply chain disruptions, and changes in consumer preferences, among others.
The forward-looking statements in this release reflect the company’s expectations as of the date of publication, and Armanino Foods undertakes no obligation to update or revise any such statements, except as may be required by law. As always, potential investors and stakeholders are encouraged to consider these risks when evaluating the company’s future performance.
