WATERBURY, Vt. & Parsippany, N.J. -- Keurig Green Mountain Inc., a leader in single-serve coffee and beverage technologies, has announced the appointment of Robert J. Gamgort as CEO effective May 2, 2016. He currently serves as CEO of consumer packaged goods (CPG) provider Pinnacle Foods Inc.
Leaving his position at Pinnacle Foods at the end of April, Gamgort will replace Brian Kelley, who will continue to support Keurig Green Mountain and become vice chairman of the board.
The Pinnacle board has started a search process, with a committee evaluating both internal and external candidates.
A JAB Holding Co.-led consortium acquired Keurig Green Mountain earlier this year.
"We are delighted that Bob will become the CEO and a key shareholder of Keurig," said Bart Becht, chairman at JAB and Keurig Green Mountain. "Bob is one of the most talented and respected executives in the fast moving [CPG] industry, and his focus on growth and long-term value creation makes him an ideal partner for JAB, as well as its co-investors."
Gamgort said, "I see a significant opportunity to build upon Keurig's unique combination of brands, partners and technologies by accelerating innovation and expanding penetration of single-serve systems to continue winning in the consumer market. I look forward to joining the team. "
Gamgort joined Pinnacle as CEO in 2009. Before that, he served as North American president for Mars Inc., where he managed the company's portfolio of confectionery, main meal, pet food and retail businesses. He joined Mars in 1998, initially serving as vice president of marketing for M&M/Mars and then as general manager of its chocolate unit.
Prior to Mars, he served as president of Major League Baseball Properties. He began his career at Kraft Foods, where he served in key marketing, sales, corporate strategy and general management roles.
Parsippany, N.J.-based Pinnacle Foods' Duncan Hines grocery segment manages brands such as Duncan Hines baking mixes and frostings, Vlasic and Vlasic Farmer's Garden shelf-stable pickles, Wish-Bone and Western salad dressings, Mrs. Butterworth's and Log Cabin syrups, Armour canned meats, Brooks & Nalley chili and chili ingredients, Duncan Hines Comstock and Wilderness pie and pastry fruit fillings and Open Pit barbecue sauces. Its Birds Eye frozen segment manages brands such as Birds Eye, gardein, Birds Eye Steamfresh, C&W, McKenzie's and Freshlike frozen vegetables, Birds Eye Voila! bagged frozen meals, Van de Kamp's and Mrs. Paul's frozen prepared seafood, Hungry-Man frozen dinners and entrees, Aunt Jemima frozen breakfasts, Lender's frozen and refrigerated bagels and Celeste frozen pizza. Its specialty foods segment manages Tim's Cascade Snacks, Hawaiian kettle style potato chips, Erin's popcorn, Snyder of Berlin and Husman's snacks in addition to its foodservice and private-label businesses. The acquisition of Boulder Brands adds brands such as Glutino, Udi's Gluten Free, Earth Balance, EVOL foods, and Smart Balance to its foods portfolio.
Parsippany, N.J.-based Pinnacle's food and snack brands include Duncan Hines, Vlasic, Wish-Bone, Western, Mrs. Butterworth's, Log Cabin, Armour, Brooks & Nalley redients, Comstock, Wilderness pie and pastry fruit fillings, Open Pit, Birds Eye, gardein, C&W, McKenzie's, Freshlike, Van de Kamp's, Mrs. Paul's, Hungry-Man, Aunt Jemima, Lender's, Celeste, Tim's Cascade Snacks, Hawaiian, Erin's, Snyder of Berlin and Husman's, Boulder Brands, Glutino, Udi's Gluten Free, Earth Balance, EVOL foods and Smart Balance, in addition to its foodservice and private-label businesses.
Offering the Keurig hot and Keurig Kold personal beverage systems, Keurig Green Mountain, Waterbury, Vt., has more than 80 brands and more than 575 beverage varieties.
JAB is a privately held group focused on long-term investments in "companies with premium brands, attractive growth and strong margin dynamics in the consumer goods category." The group's portfolio includes a controlling stake in Keurig Green Mountain; Jacobs Douwe Egberts (JDE), a pure-play fast-moving consumer goods (FMCG) coffee company; Peet's Coffee & Tea, a specialty coffee and tea company; Caribou Coffee Co., a specialty coffee retailer; Einstein Noah Restaurant Group Inc., a quick-casual restaurant chain; Espresso House, a coffee shop chain in Scandinavia; and Baresso Coffee A/S, a coffee shop chain in Denmark, among others.
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