Applegate Farms, LLC Announces Leadership Changes For 2016

Press Release Jan. 6, 2016 at 5:57 PM

BRIDGEWATER, N.J., Jan. 6, 2016 /PRNewswire/ — Applegate®, the nation’s leading natural and organic meat brand, announced that Chief Executive Officer Kerry Collins will transition to the role of CEO emeritus, and Chief Operating Officer Steven J. Lykken will assume the position of president. Applegate Farms, LLC (Applegate) is a stand-alone subsidiary of Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL).

“Both Kerry and Steve played key roles in ensuring a smooth transition of Applegate into a stand-alone subsidiary of Hormel Foods Corporation,” said Thomas R. Day, group vice president of Refrigerated Foods at Hormel Foods. “Kerry’s leadership was essential in preserving the core of Applegate’s vision of ‘Changing the Meat We Eat,’ and we look forward to her continuing counsel as CEO emeritus. Steve brings with him a wealth of knowledge and experience that will help Applegate continue to grow and expand in the natural and organic food space.”

Collins: Collins joined Applegate in 2011 as vice president of finance. She led key efforts in information technology and supply chain management and quickly rose through the ranks to chief financial and operating officer. Collins was named chief executive officer of Applegate in 2014. She shepherded the acquisition of Applegate by Hormel Foods in 2015. In addition to her CEO emeritus role, Collins also will be a member of the Applegate Advisory Board, a group charged with continuing Applegate’s vision of “Changing the Meat We Eat.”

Lykken: Lykken became chief operating officer of Applegate in August 2015. He is a 24-year veteran of Hormel Foods Corporation, most recently as the senior vice president of supply chain at Jennie-O Turkey Store. He began his career at Hormel Foods in 1992 as a Grocery Products sales representative in Salt Lake City, Utah. From 1996 to 2002, Lykken led teams in trade management and marketing at the Hormel Foods Corporate office in Austin, Minn. He was moved to the Jennie-O Turkey Store as senior vice president of the retail division in 2003.

About Applegate: For more than 25 years, Applegate has been producing high-quality natural and organic hot dogs, bacon, sausages, deli meats, cheese and frozen products. Natural can mean many things, but when Applegate says their products are natural, consumers are guaranteed that they are free of GMO ingredients and the meat inside is:

Raised without antibiotics or hormones
From animals fed a vegetarian or 100% grass diet and treated with humane animal standards
Free of added chemical nitrites, nitrates or phosphates
Free of artificial ingredients or preservatives

Applegate became a stand-alone subsidiary of Hormel Foods in July 2015. For more information about our products, visit http://www.applegate.com or talk with us on https://www.facebook.com/applegate or https://twitter.com/Applegate.

About Hormel Foods: 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 (S&P) 500 Index, S&P 500 Dividend Aristocrats for 2014, was named the 2013 Sustainable Supply Chain of the Year by Refrigerated & Frozen Foods magazine, and was again named one of “The 100 Best Corporate Citizens” by Corporate Responsibility Magazine for the seventh year in a row. Hormel Foods was also recognized as a 2015 Military Friendly Employer by G.I. Jobs magazine, on the 2015 Best for Vets Employers List by Military Times, and was named one of the 2015 40 Best Companies for Leaders by Chief Executive magazine. 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.