Dive Brief:
- Ortega maker B&G Foods said it has hired a new CEO, with current top executive Casey Keller set to step down from the post on Friday. Keller has been CEO since June 2021.
- B&G did not disclose the new CEO at the individual's request, but said the person is in a senior leadership position at another public company. The food maker expects to reveal the name “shortly.”
- Under Keller’s leadership, the New Jersey-based company has slimmed down its portfolio to shed noncore assets, sharpen its focus and reduce its debt. He will continue to assist B&G with its leadership transition on an "ongoing basis," the company said.
Dive Insight:
Once a serial buyer, B&G has largely focused on divestitures under Keller. Since May 2025, the company has offloaded its Green Giant vegetable business and sold two of its tomato lines as well as its Le Sueur brand of premium sweet peas, green beans and carrots.
Still, it has remained open to acquisitions when the right opportunity comes along. Earlier this year, it purchased brands College Inn and Kitchen Basics from Del Monte Foods for $110 million.
“We have begun to reshape our portfolio through our recent divestiture and acquisition activity, and I believe the dedicated and resilient team at B&G Foods will guide the Company towards a bright future,” Keller said in a statement.
While the name of Keller’s successor, and the industry the person comes from, is unknown, the fact that the incoming CEO’s current employer is publicly traded could help them weather the demands of Wall Street and shareholders.
The new executive comes to B&G at a challenging time for the company and food manufacturers across the board as consumers shun processed offerings and pull back on spending due to inflation. During B&G’s most recent quarter, the Crisco and Clabber Girl manufacturer said net sales slipped 3.9% to $409 million from the same period a year ago.
