DALLAS–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Feb. 22, 2007–Dean Foods Company (NYSE:
DF) today announced that Blaine E. McPeak will be joining Dean Foods’
WhiteWave Division as President, Horizon Organic. McPeak comes to
WhiteWave Foods with progressive marketing and general management
experience, including 16 years of brand and business building at
Kellogg Company and Sara Lee Corporation.
McPeak most recently came from Kellogg Company where he served as
President of its $1 billion Wholesome Portable Breakfast and Snacks
division. Before that position he served as President of Kellogg’s
Frozen Foods, where under his leadership the team achieved strong net
sales and operating profit growth, along with market share expansion
and the launch of a robust innovation pipeline. Prior to holding these
positions, he led Kellogg’s Kashi Company, as General Manager.
During his four-year tenure at Kashi Company, McPeak led a team
that grew the business significantly from a niche natural foods player
to a thriving, mainstream business with broadened appeal and expanded
distribution.
McPeak will run the Horizon Organic business, the nation’s leading
organic dairy brand, overseeing all functions, including marketing,
research and development, operations, sales and international growth
and expansion of the company’s Rachel’s Organic brand. He will report
to Joseph Scalzo, President and CEO of WhiteWave Foods.
“We look forward to Blaine’s contributions to WhiteWave,” said
Gregg Engles, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Dean Foods.
“Blaine’s ability to lead organizations through evolution and growth
helped him deliver strong results throughout his career.” Added
Engles, “While building and growing the Kashi business, Blaine
developed a keen understanding of the natural and organic community.
With this experience he will have a strong impact on Horizon Organic.”
Over McPeak’s 13-year tenure at Kellogg’s his work spanned a
number of high-profile brand initiatives, including helping
significantly grow the Kellogg’s Pop Tarts brand, Eggo Frozen
Breakfast business and Morningstar Farms vegetarian business. He also
improved the company’s marketing position in the adult healthy cereal
segment through the creation and launch of Kellogg’s Smart Start
cereal.
“I am very pleased Blaine is joining WhiteWave Foods and I’m happy
to welcome him back to the natural and organic foods community. It is
one for which he has a deep passion and commitment,” said Scalzo. “I
also look forward to seeing what an accomplished executive of Blaine’s
caliber can do to take our Horizon Organic and Rachel’s organic dairy
brands to even greater levels of performance.”
Before working for Kellogg, McPeak spent three years at Sara Lee
Corporation.
He is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, where he earned
his bachelor’s degree in Journalism, and later his MBA in marketing.
ABOUT DEAN FOODS
Dean Foods Company is one of the leading food and beverage
companies in the United States. Its Dairy Group division is the
largest processor and distributor of milk and other dairy products in
the country, with products sold under more than 50 familiar local and
regional brands and a wide array of private labels. The Company’s
WhiteWave Foods subsidiary markets and sells a variety of well-known
dairy and dairy-related products, such as Silk(R) soymilk, Horizon
Organic(R) milk and other dairy products, and International Delight(R)
coffee creamers. WhiteWave Foods’ Rachel’s Organic(R) brand is the
second largest organic milk and organic yogurt brand in the United
Kingdom.
CONTACT: WhiteWave Foods
Molly Keveney, 303-635-4529
Director, Communications
or
Dean Foods Company
Marguerite Copel, 214-271-1273
Vice President, Corporate Communications
SOURCE: Dean Foods Company