Douglas Reetz And Dennis Goettsch To Retire From Hormel Foods Corp.

July 26, 2012

Hormel Foods Corp. announced the upcoming retirements of Douglas R. Reetz, vice president of Hormel Foods and senior vice president of consumer products sales (CPS), and Dennis B. Goettsch, vice president of marketing, foodservice.

"Doug has made an outstanding impact on our sales division throughout his career with Hormel Foods, and Dennis has made exceptional contributions to foodservice during his tenure with the company," said Jeffrey M. Ettinger, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods in a prepared statement. "Thank you to Doug and Dennis for their long-term careers at Hormel Foods. We greatly appreciate their leadership, and we wish them both the best in their retirements."

The following advancements will take place as a result of the retirements:

Patrick J. Schwab, director of fresh meats and margin optimization, will replace Reetz in the position of vice president of Hormel Foods and senior vice president of CPS.

Jeffrey R. Baker, director of marketing, foodservice, will replace Goettsch in the position of vice president of marketing, foodservice.

These advancements will be effective Oct. 29, 2012.

Schwab joined Hormel foods in 1986. He held several sales positions in Atlanta, Ga., Cincinnati, Ohio, and Buffalo, N.Y., before becoming national sales manager of pork primals at the Corporate Office in Austin, Minn., in 1993. Schwab advanced to corporate manager of fresh pork sales, planning and logistics in 2000 and to director of fresh meat sales in 2004. He has held his current role of director of fresh meats and margin optimization since 2009.

Baker joined Hormel Foods in sales in Dubuque, Ia., in 1990. After holding product manager positions for canned meats and sausage, Baker became the meat products district manager in Buffalo, N.Y., in 2001. In 2002, he was promoted to senior product manager, meat products, and became the group product manager for meat products three years later. Baker advanced to director of fresh meats marketing and Precept Foods in 2009, and he advanced to his most recent role as director of marketing, foodservice in 2012.