People Moves: Chubby Snacks’ Perotta Has Sunnie Days Ahead as Supply Lead

Chubby Snacks Co-Founder Perotta Sees Sunnie Days Ahead

Brett Perotta, co-founder of recently shuttered frozen sandwich brand Chubby Snacks, is beginning his next act as director of supply chain at better-for-you snack maker Sunnie.

Based in Los Angeles, Sunnie was founded in 2020 by Lisette Howard and Katy Tucker and is currently sold in about 1,500 doors nationwide, including Target and, as of this month, Whole Foods Market. The brand won Nosh Pitch Slam 2022, and last year it announced a round of funding led by Fulcrum Collective and SWAT Equity Partners.

Perotta is now Sunnie’s first full-time hire, after the business had been run solely by the co-founders with the aid of contracted help, Howard told Nosh this week. However, the relationship goes back several years to when both Sunnie and Chubby Snacks shared a commercial kitchen space in California where there was an atmosphere of support and “camaraderie,” she said.

After Chubby Snacks closed down this past winter amid ongoing legal battles, Howard said that Perotta reached out to Sunnie to offer his support.

“He just jumped in full tilt and has been a really beneficial part of the team,” she said, “We get along great, he’s a hard worker. He has the grit of the emerging brand industry, of just doing whatever he needs to do to get the job done.”

Perotta joins Sunnie as the brand is experiencing a period of fast expansion, having grown annual revenue from around $580,000 in 2023 to “just under” $2 million last year, Howard said.

The revenue growth has also come with wider distribution for Sunnie, launching four SKUs of its cracker line and two of its dip packs at Whole Foods stores this month. The company expects to add another 500 stores by the end of the year, Howard said.

As the director of supply chain, Perotta is working to establish a “good foundation” for the business, she added, and is responsible for ingredient ordering and freight management.

“It was really important for us to bring that in, because we feel like if we can have a good foundation, from a supply chain perspective, within operations, that would expand to the rest of the company. I needed help doing that, and I knew that Brett had a lot of experience with that before.”

Sunnie is looking to continue expanding its team with an upcoming director of sales hire and is also exploring innovation for next year, though Howard declined to go further into detail.

Ahold Delhaize Promotes Wilson to CFO

Ahold Delhaize USA has given a big promotion to longtime finance executive Jason Wilson, naming him as CFO responsible for all financial strategy and operations.

With over a decade at the international retail conglomerate, Wilson most recently served as SVP of Finance for the Food Lion chain.

“Jason has extensive industry experience and is a proven leader, who I am confident will advance our finance organization and provide strong support and partnership to each of our U.S. businesses,” said JJ Fleeman, CEO of Ahold Delhaize USA, in a press release. “Jason has a retail-oriented, customer-first mindset and a relentless focus that will enable our U.S. businesses to continue to thrive.”

During his time overseeing Food Lion, the chain reported 50 consecutive quarters of positive comparable store sales, the company said.

“It is an honor to take on this role and contribute to the growth of our businesses,” said Wilson in the release. “I look forward to working alongside the team to drive critical priorities and support our Growing Together strategy through strong financial controls and investments.”

Hormel Names New President, Interim CEO

Hormel Foods Corporation has promoted EVP of Retail John Ghingo as its next president, as well as appointing board member Jeffrey Ettinger as interim CEO, with both executives beginning their new roles on July 14.

Ettinger will serve as interim CEO for a period of 15 months.

“We are confident that Jeff’s valuable experience with the public markets and investment community, as well as his deep understanding of our culture, will complement John’s expertise with consumer-relevant innovation, brand building, and strategy in today’s dynamic food industry,” said Hormel Foods chairman Bill Newlands in a release. “The board has full confidence in John and Jeff’s ability to strengthen our business, deepen our relevance with consumers, and deliver lasting value for our shareholders.”

Ghingo has also been named to the board of directors. He has previously held leadership roles at Mondelez International and at Hormel subsidiary Applegate Farms.

“I returned to the company last year because the history, people, culture and portfolio of iconic brands truly set us apart in the industry,” Ghingo said in a statement. “I’m excited to build on that foundation and help shape what’s next. Transform & Modernize remains a critical part of our strategy, and I’m committed to keeping that momentum going —it continues to be a top priority for our organization.”

More People Moves from Across the Food Industry:

• Express Checkout founder Nate Rosen has joined software company Instant, which works with brands like HigherDOSE and ThirdLove on email and data services.
• Joe Loria was named as director of marketing for regenerative foods brand SIMPLi last week.
• Olive oil producer Salov Group appointed Giacomo Campinoti as CEO of its subsidiary, Filippo Berio USA.