Hormel Foods Announces Retirements, Advancements

Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE:HRL) today announced the upcoming retirements of Daniel A. Hartzog, vice president of sales, consumer products sales, and Bruce R. Schweitzer, vice president of operations, Refrigerated Foods. These retirements will be effective April 27, 2012.

"I would like to thank Dan and Bruce for their contributions during their long-term careers at Hormel Foods,” said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer. "Dan’s leadership in sales and Bruce’s leadership in operations have contributed greatly to our success, and we wish them the best in their retirements.”

As a result of the retirements, the following advancements will take place:

• Kurt F. Mueller, vice president of business planning, consumer products sales, will replace Hartzog, and Steven D. Althaus will replace Mueller in the position of director, business planning, consumer products sales. Andrew J. Benson, director, Refrigerated Foods, Sam’s – Walmart, consumer products sales, will assume Althaus’ responsibilities as director of the SuperValu business team, consumer products sales, and Randy R. Simonson, customer business manager, consumer products sales, will assume Benson’s responsibilities.
• Jeffrey A. Nuytten will replace Schweitzer, and Donald G. Cole will assume Nuytten’s responsibilities as vice president of operations at Jennie-O Turkey Store. Todd J. Kampstra, director of further processing cooked production, Jennie-O Turkey Store, will assume Cole’s responsibilities as plant manager of West Central Turkeys.

Mueller
In 1979, Mueller began his career at Hormel Foods in sales. In 1984, he became a product manager in meat products at the Corporate Office. Mueller became a district manager in 1988 and advanced to director of retail marketing for Dubuque Foods in 1991. In 1995, he became a manager of logistics and customer service in Refrigerated Foods at the Corporate Office and was promoted in 1999 to vice president of sales and marketing, fresh pork. Mueller has held his current position since 2004.

Althaus
Althaus began his career at Hormel Foods in 1990 as a meat products relief sales and merchandiser in Houston (Texas). In 1993, he advanced to meat products account executive and became a product manager in 1998. Althaus became a meat products district manager in 1999 and has held his current position since 2004.

Benson
Benson began his career at Hormel Foods in 1993 in sales. He advanced to sales and marketing manager at Fleming Meat Products (Dallas, Texas) in 2000 and to business development manager in 2001. In 2002, he became the Albertsons customer planning manager and since 2004 has held various roles on the consumer products sales Walmart team in Bentonville, Ark. Benson has been in his current role since 2008.

Simonson
Simonson began his career at Hormel Foods in 1985 in sales. In 1990, he became a Grocery Products associate product manager at the Corporate Office; he advanced to product manager in 1993 and to senior product manager the following year. In 2007, Simonson became a customer executive in consumer products sales and he advanced to customer regional manager in 2010. He has held his current position since 2011.

Nuytten
Nuytten joined the company in 1979 at the Fort Dodge (Iowa) facility. He held foreman positions at Fort Dodge and the Fremont Plant until he became the plant superintendent at Dold Foods. In 1992, he transferred to the Austin Plant as the superintendent of cured and smoked meats production. From 1994 to 2004 he held plant manager positions at Dold Foods, Osceola (Iowa) Food and the Austin Plant. Nuytten has been the vice president of operations at Jennie-O Turkey Store since 2004.

Cole
Cole began his career at Hormel Foods in 1980 at the Fremont Plant. He held foreman positions until becoming a supervisor in 1990. In 1994, he advanced to superintendent and transferred to the Austin Plant later that year. In 1996, he became the Benson Ave. plant manager at Jennie-O in Willmar, Minn., and two years later he became the plant manager of Heartland Foods-Jennie-O in Marshall, Minn. Since 2002, Cole has been the plant manager of West Central Turkeys in Pelican Rapids, Minn.

Kampstra
Kampstra became the manufacturing projects manager at Jerome Foods (Barron, Wis.) in 1992 and the following year was named the director of operations. In 1997, he became the director of value-added operations at The Turkey Store (Barron, Wis.). Kampstra advanced to the director of further processing – raw at the Jennie-O Turkey Store Willmar (Minn.) location in 2001 and has been the director of further processing – cooked since 2010.

About Hormel Foods Corporation
Hormel Foods Corporation, based in Austin, Minn., is a multinational manufacturer and marketer of consumer-branded food and meat products, many of which are among the best known and trusted in the food industry. The company leverages its extensive expertise, innovation and high competencies in pork and turkey processing and marketing to bring branded, value-added products to the global marketplace. The company is a member of the Standard & Poor's 500 Index, Dow Jones Sustainability Indexes, Maplecroft Climate Innovation Indexes, Global 1000 Sustainable Performance Leaders and was named one of "The 100 Most Trustworthy Companies" by Forbes in 2010. The company enjoys a strong reputation among consumers, retail grocers, foodservice and industrial customers for products highly regarded for quality, taste, nutrition, convenience and value. For more information, visit http://www.hormelfoods.com.