LAFAYETTE, Calif. – Bell-Carter Foods, Inc. (Bell-Carter), a leader in the specialty condiment business and the nation’s largest table olive producer, today announced new hires and growth of its executive team. The organization welcomes Matthew L. Amigh as Chief Financial Officer; Doug Reifsteck as Executive Vice President of Operations; and Tom Rickard as Vice President of Retail Sales. Chief Executive Officer, Tim T. Carter, and Vice President of Strategy, Marketing and Organizational Development, James F. Thomas, round out the rest of the Bell-Carter executive team. The diverse backgrounds of the new executive team not only bring innovation and top-tier leadership to the rest of the company, but also drive the brand forward to reach new heights in its industry.
Matthew L. Amigh joined Bell-Carter as CFO in August 2013. Bell-Carter is proud to have Matt oversee the operations of company’s finance department. Matt has held many key finance and operation roles including accounting, treasury, financial planning and analysis, and information technology teams. Prior to joining Bell-Carter, Matt held key finance and operations roles with leading consumer food-and-beverage organizations, including Mars, Inc., Del Monte Foods and HJ Heinz. Matt’s impressive background stems from an education from the University of Pittsburgh, as well as earning a MBA from Robert Morris University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and an Army Reserve National Guard veteran.
Doug Reifsteck is another new-comer to the Bell-Carter as he joined as Executive Vice President of Operations in August 2013. As EVP of Operations, he is responsible for grower relations, receiving and storage, production, and logistics groups. Doug’s food and beverage industry career covers a variety of manufacturing and supply-chain roles. Before joining Bell-Carter, Doug’s employers were some of the industry’s biggest names, including Frito-Lay, Kraft, Ocean Spray, and E. J. Gallo Winery. Doug was drawn to the company by its reputation as a family-owned industry leader with a passionate crew of employees.
Tom Rickard is the Vice President of Retail Sales; he joined the organization in 2012. Tom’s retail food experience began at the age of 6 as he helped his father dust shelves and build store displays. As a young man, Tom’s ambition and strong work ethic enabled him to quickly progress up the ranks at Safeway grocery stores, moving from courtesy clerk to cashier and assistant store manager. Tom has held sales and planning roles at Pillsbury, as well as senior management positions at Mezzetta and Sutter Home. His competitive drive and first-hand experience with all aspects of sales makes Tom an important addition to the Bee-Carter team.
“The entire Bell-Carter family is happy to welcome Matt, Doug and Tom to the team,” said Carter. “All three bring expertise and years of experience that we know will help the Bell-Carter and Lindsay brands excel to new levels. We look forward to working together to continue to provide our consumers with the same excellent products they love.”
Great grandson of company cofounder, Arthur Bell, Carter joined the family business when he was just 15-years-old. Through building relationships and working hard, he has worked his way from the processing floor to the executive suite. As CEO, Carter has brought a lot to both brands through his educational background and life experiences. Not only has he lived abroad in the heart of Spain’s olive-growing region, but he earned his MBA from St. Mary’s College and took part in the prestigious Owner/President Management program at Harvard Business School. He prides himself in the relationships that he builds with people and has a deep respect for his family legacy.
Also part of the executive team is James F. Thomas, better known as “JT”, who joined the organization in 2011. He serves as the company’s Vice President of Strategy, Marketing and Organizational Development. JT spent more than two decades successfully growing some of the world’s largest consumer brands for Diageo and Quaker Oats. After his time with these organizations JT appreciates the broad scope and visibility that a family-owned company like Bell-Carter offers. He feels strongly about being about to see the direct results of his efforts in a smaller company. Having been a collegiate basketball player and coach, he places a strong emphasis on the value of teamwork and training, making him a perfect addition to Bell-Carter. He is a graduate of the University of Alberta, and earned his MBA from California State University East Bay with a dual emphasis in finance and marketing.
As a representation of Bell-Carter Foods, Inc., the values of the executive team and their experience stem from a history of dynamic family, business and educational backgrounds that continue to ensure the success of the Lindsay brand and the satisfaction of its customers.
For more information, visit us on the web at www.BellCarter.com and www.lindsayolives.com. You can also find the Lindsay brand on Facebook , Twitter and Pinterest.
About Bell-Carter
Century old Bell-Carter Foods, Inc. is the largest table olive producer in the U.S. and sells more than half of all California olives nationwide. With a wide variety of domestic and imported olives and specialty condiments, Bell-Carter offers a variety of flavors perfect for family-favorite recipes and new culinary adventures. The fourth generation, family-owned and -operated company makes its home base in Lafayette, California. Processing facilities are located in California’s “olive capital” of Corning, in the heart of the Central Valley’s agricultural bounty. Bell-Carter CEO Tim T. Carter follows in the footsteps of his predecessors and carries the company’s commitment to quality and sustainability into its second century. For more information on all of Bell-Carter’s specialty condiments and ongoing sustainability efforts, visit Bell-Carter.com.
Source: Bell-Carter Foods