Growers Express LLC, Monterey, Calif., has promoted Kirk Wagner to chief operating officer.
The company, frozen vegetable product producer and primary licensed partner of the Green Giant Fresh brand, hired Wagner in 2011 as general counsel, which was his position until receiving the chief operating officer promotion.
Wagner is on the company’s executive team, reporting to the board of directors and working with President Tom Byrne and CEO Mark Dendle. He continues to serve as general counsel, according to a news release.
“With over 20 years of working with food industry suppliers, manufacturers and customers up and down the fresh and frozen supply chain, Kirk brings an incredible breadth of experience in building relationships and problem-solving that has been critical for the company during a time of remarkable growth,” Byrne said in the release.
Before joining Growers Express, Wagner was an attorney at law firms in Las Vegas, Houston and Monterey, according to the release.
Wagner’s focus will on “moving the organization ahead through significant operational achievements like the launch of the original Green Giant Fresh Cauliflower Crumbles chopped Cauliflower, which help revitalize what once was a commodity-driven category and has since exploded in usage and demand,” according to the release.
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