ALLENDALE, N.J. -- Promotion In Motion Cos. Inc. (PIM), the manufacturers and marketers of candy and snack brands including Welch's Fruit Snacks, Sour Jacks candies and Sun-Maid Chocolate Raisins, recently added four key senior executives to its leadership team. And previously located in Closter, N.J., it has relocated its corporate headquarters to a new facility in Allendale, N.J.
Charlean Gmunder has joined PIM as vice president of manufacturing, bringing with her extensive manufacturing experience in the food industry, with a concentration on the confectionery sector. In her new role, Gmunder will oversee all manufacturing operations, focusing on the Somerset manufacturing facility and the forthcoming allergen facility expansion. She will be based at the PIM Brands Somerset, N.J., plant.
For the past three years, Gmunder has served as vice president of operations for Premio Foods. Prior to that, she served as vice president of global logistics for National Starch. Gmunder's career includes 21 years working for the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Co., culminating in her position as president of the L.A. Dreyfus Co., a wholly owned subsidiary, responsible for global gum base operations.
Keith Von Zup has joined the company as vice president of sales for national accounts. In his new role, Von Zup will spearhead PIM growth efforts with select major U.S. national accounts, including Kroger, Meijer, Trader Joe's and Aldi. He will also manage the company's grocery business in the mid-nation states.
Von Zup has more than 25 years of experience in sales roles with major confectionary companies. Previously, Von Zup had been in sales with Just Born, and prior to that he had 20 years of experience with M&M/Mars.
Paul Klutes has joined PIM as vice president of sales for national accounts. Klutes will be responsible for targeting growth efforts with major national accounts in the United States. In addition, he will lead sales efforts on the entire PIM portfolio in Canada.
Klutes' sales and marketing experience includes more than 25 years with both large- and small-sized companies, including Coca-Cola, Veryfine, Welch's and most recently at CH Robinson, a logistics/produce supply company. His latest experience included responsibility for branded produce items at CHR, including Welch's Fresh Grapes and Mott's Apples and Apple Slices.
David Fleischer has joined PIM as vice president of trade relations. In his new role for PIM, Fleischer will have primary responsibility for managing relationships with key industry and trade groups, including the National Candy Association (NCA), the National Association of Convenience Stores (NACS), National Automatic Merchandising Association (NAMA) and American Wholesale Marketers Association (AWMA), as well as other groups.
In addition, Fleischer will be the primary player in trade show exhibitions throughout the year. His responsibilities will include devising and refining trade strategy and programs, as well as customer-specific strategies to increase sales and importance with key customers in all trade channels.
Fleischer has more than 30 years of sales experience in the candy and confectionary industry. His background includes positions with Adams, Cadbury and most recently Kraft Foods.
Meanwhile, the company's new 30,000-square-foot headquarters will house the corporate offices for more than 60 employees, with room for further growth, as well as a pilot plant/lab, R&D innovation center, consumer satisfaction lab, conference facilities and amenities including a new employee fitness center.
In addition, the company is expanding its 17-acre manufacturing complex in Somerset, adding an adjacent 90,000 square feet to increase production capacity for allergen and nonallergen based products.
PIM is a leading North American maker of confections, fruit snacks and other snack food products. The company's proprietary and licensed brands include Welch's Fruit Snacks and Fruit 'n Yogurt Snacks, Sun-Maid Milk Chocolate Raisins, My M&M's Brand Chocolate Candies, Fisher Milk Chocolate Peanuts, Tuxedos Chocolate Almonds, Sour Jacks Sour Candies, Nuclear Sqworms Sour Neon Gummi Worms, Buddy Bears Gummi Bears, Toggi Fine European Chocolate Wafers, Bake Shoppe Cookie Dough Miniatures, Juicefuls Juice Filled Fruit Snacks, Fruit Rollers Wind'em Ups and more. Its subsidiaries and affiliates include Promotion In Motion Canada Inc., Grupo de Alimentacion Promocion en Mocion Mexico, Promotion In Motion UK Ltd., Farmer's Choice Food Brands and PIM Brands LLC.
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