Dawn Foods Taps Land O’ Lakes Exec for Leadership Role

Bakery products and ingredients manufacturer Dawn Foods recently named former Land O’ Lakes executive John Schmitz as President of North America, reporting to the firm’s chief executive officer Carrie Jones-Barber. 

“John – a proven leader known for organizing his teams around a shared vision – will be an instrumental addition to our executive team,” Jones-Barber said in a company press release announcing the appointment. “His energy and passion for problem solving, combined with his commitment to customer success, will be critical to unlocking the fresh, innovative thinking required to deliver our vision of Inspiring Bakery Success Every Day.”

Slated to join the Dawn Foods leadership team on January 6, Schmitz has over two decades of leadership experience, including 12 years at Land O’ Lakes as Vice President for International. He has also worked for in the consumer packaged goods, global agribusiness, foodservice, and industrial products industries. 

“Dawn Foods has a tremendous legacy and an even brighter future ahead,” Schmitz said in a statement. “We have the right ingredients in place to continue to innovate and lay a strong foundation for the company’s next 100 years. I am eager to roll up my sleeves, dig in with the rest of the Dawn team, and evolve our business model to ensure we are best positioned to serve our customers and the industry for years to come.”

The company acquired Ardent Mills sweet goods business in Canada and a mix facility in Burlington, ON in June 2019, enabling the firm to focus on flour and savory mixes, Powder & Bulk Solids reported. 

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