IRWINDALE, Calif. -- Ready Pac Foods Inc. has promoted Rick Montoya as its new vice president of the Retail Specialties division (RTS) and Sean McClure as procurement manager within the same division. Montoya, who has held the role of procurement manager for the Retail Specialties division since 2008, will be stepping into his new position to replace Ken Ewalt, who ran Ready Pac’s Retail Specialties division for the last 16 years.
Joining the Irwindale, Calif.-based Ready Pac team in 1996, Montoya took on the role of plant buyer and later moved into several subsequent positions of increased responsibility in the procurement function. Montoya left Ready Pac in 2003 to become general manager for the Giumarra Cos. in Los Angeles, and later re-joined Ready Pac in 2008 as procurement manager. Montoya has been very active in the local produce industry within the Fresh Produce & Floral Council (FPFC) holding several committee chairman positions leading up to becoming a director.
McClure began his career with Ready Pac’s Retail Specialties division as a merchandiser in 1999 and was promoted to buyer in 2001 and senior buyer in 2006. Prior to Ready Pac, Sean was with Lucky’s grocery stores since 1990, where he worked in various key positions in the deli, dairy and produce departments.
“I can’t express how honored I am to accept this role with Ready Pac,” Montoya said of his new position within the company. “Fresh produce has played a particularly significant role in both Sean’s and my life for so many years; I’m very excited to be able to work together to share our unique perspectives with the Retail Specialties team in order to build upon the strong foundation that Ken upheld at Ready Pac for so many years.”
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