Potandon Produce Adds Industry Veteran Mike Pennella to Board

Pennella arrives in Idaho Falls with a track record of consolidating complex food portfolios. During his tenure as president of Hillshire and Sara Lee Bakery & Deli, he unified fragmented operating companies into a single entity generating over $1.7 billion in annual sales. He later directed a similar transformation at ConAgra Foods, managing a $2 billion foodservice organization that included brands like Healthy Choice and Hunt's.

His career also spans leadership roles at companies such as PepsiCo, Lamb Weston, and Pilgrim's Pride. Board Chairman Jeff Sholl described Pennella as a key resource for the company’s long-term growth strategy, citing his history of organizational restructuring. CEO Des Hague, who has worked with Pennella on previous ventures, noted that his operational insight will be central to the company’s current efforts to expand its retail footprint and invest in new product innovation.