People Moves: Deep Indian Kitchen Names First Chief Sales Officer; Goya Foods VP Retires

Deep Indian Kitchen Appoints First Chief Sales Officer

Deep Indian Kitchen, the fastest-selling brand in natural frozen entrees, per SPINS, announced today it has appointed industry leader Brian Sorenson as its first chief sales officer. The appointment comes as the brand seeks to continue accelerating sales growth, having more than octupled sales over the past five years, and become an industry leader in global flavors.

Sorenson comes to Deep Indian Kitchen with 25 years of experience, having previously served as head of sales development at emerging brands investor and accelerator Factory LLC, VP of sales for the frozen and pizza and snacks division at CPG giant Nestlé, and EVP of sales at Advantage Solutions.

“My career journey has been a nice balance of big CPG roles with large budgets and lots of resources and small budgets and limited to no resources. A lot of what I saw and led in big companies applies to growth stage brands, but a lot of it doesn’t,” Sorenson said in an email to Nosh.

He continued, “The key is to pick and choose the processes and structures to apply without killing the entrepreneurial spirit and slowing down a rocket ship. At Deep Indian Kitchen, we are at the stage of growth where we will need some more discipline and process while still being super athletic and consumer-centric.”

Currently, Deep Indian Kitchen’s products – including Frozen Entrees, Kati Street Wraps, and Simmer Sauces – are sold in 21,000 stores nationwide, including Target, Stop & Shop, CVS Pharmacy, and Ralphs, among others. The brand accounted for 111% of the frozen Indian segment’s growth in the 52-week period ended Dec. 1, per SPINS, representing a significant opportunity to offset overall frozen meal and snack category declines.

According to frozen meal buyer analysis from Deep Indian Kitchen and Bovitz, 77% of frozen meal buyers are purchasing global flavors. The brand is at a point of inflection, seeking to grow the frozen Indian segment and overall frozen category with its products.

“As we continue to grow, we have already been investing in new capabilities such as insights and analytics and now we will be upping our game in the areas of sales planning and strategy. These competencies will be a high priority as I am building out and developing the team,” said Sorenson.

Goya Foods VP Retires

Goya Foods, America’s largest Hispanic-owned food company, announced this week that Carlos Ortiz has retired after 35 years as VP and general counsel. During his time at the Jersey City, N.J.-based company, Ortiz safeguarded the company’s legal rights, advised leadership on legal matters, and “played a crucial role in enhancing Goya’s brand and revenue,” according to the announcement.

Upon Ortiz’s departure, Goya Foods appointed Jesús Vasquez as its new general counsel. Vasquez previously served as outside counsel for the company before joining as assistant general counsel in 2022. In that role, he efficiently integrated Goya’s operations and collaborated across various departments on a range of legal matters, according to the brand.

“As we bid farewell to Carlos Ortiz after his remarkable tenure at Goya Foods, we express our deepest gratitude for his invaluable contributions, unwavering dedication, and loyal friendship over the years,” said Bob Unanue, president and CEO of Goya Foods, in a press release.

He continued, “At the same time, we are excited to welcome Jesús Vasquez as our new general counsel. With his extensive experience and proven track record, we are confident that he will continue to uphold our mission and guide us into a future filled with continued success.”

Little Sesame Taps Drew Martin to Lead National Expansion as CCO

As part of its national expansion efforts, hummus maker Little Sesame has welcomed Drew Martin as chief commercialization officer. In his new role, Martin will oversee commercialization strategy, all sales channels, and in-store marketing.

He comes to Little Sesame from alt-dairy giant Oatly, where he most recently served as EVP commercial, North America, scaling the business to over $400 million in sales with a multi-channel approach. Previously, he served as Chobani’s director of sales.

“Drew has built powerful brands in competitive categories from the ground up, pioneering better-for-you products that challenge legacy players. Ronen and I are excited to build the future of the hummus category with Drew by our side,” said Nick Wiseman, co-founder of Little Sesame, in a statement.

Martin’s appointment comes as Little Sesame accelerates its vision for transforming the hummus category. Since 2021, the Washington, D.C.-based brand has expanded into 3,000 stores nationwide and launched innovative products like its kids hummus line. This year, Little Sesame is slated to open a new facility, quadrupling its capacity, and expects to reach $20 million in sales.

“With chef-driven food, best-in-class sourcing, and a passionate team, I’m excited to lead the charge as we reshape the hummus category and continue to bring bold, innovative products to consumers nationwide,” said Martin in a statement.

Dole Names New VP of Marketing, Americas

CPG and food service veteran Mike Secor has been announced as the new VP of marketing, Americas at fresh and packaged fruit purveyor Dole Packaged Foods. He succeeds Nora Witt, who retired after three-and-a-half years with the company and over 30 years in the CPG industry.

“As I close this chapter, I couldn’t be more confident in handing the reins over to Mike. With more than 35 years of experience, he will continue to lead our efforts to expand our reach and impact and support our mission to deliver Sunshine for All,” said Witt in a LinkedIn post.

Secor, who previously held roles at large companies like Bondouelle Fresh Americas, Ruiz Foods, and General Mills, will be tasked with innovating, refining, and executing Dole’s marketing strategy for the U.S. division.

Additionally, Dole has expanded Stacy Smoot’s executive sales role into VP of retail and foodservice sales. In her expanded role, Smoot – who joined the company in 2022 – will oversee foodservice sales and develop cross-channel efficiencies to continue driving results.

“Stacy has made tremendous strides in streamlining our retail sales team with an insight-led, strategic focus. We look forward to her leading our cross-channel sales team to drive continued growth and pursue excellence,” said Orzse Hodi, president and managing director of Dole Packaged Foods, Americas, in a press release.

Other notable new appointments:

• Avery Henderson has rejoined branding and design agency Interact Brands as executive director of growth, leading new business, partnerships, and marketing, according to a LinkedIn post. The news comes two months after Henderson announced that the CPG brand he co-founded, Marco Sweets & Spices, was closing its doors.
• Superbrewed Food Inc. has unveiled its newly-appointed strategic advisory board, comprising three new advisors (Anthony Almada, Paul Kollesoff, and Mark Vergnano) and three continuing advisors (Shep Gordon, David Hawk, and Joe Light).