USA— Real Good Foods, a frozen meats and seafood company, has announced both the appointment of Tim Zimmer as the new CEO and the closure of their facility in City of Industry, California.
Zimmer assumed the position earlier this month, replacing Gerard Law, who served in the role since 2020.
He brings with him a wealth of experience from his previous role as chief marketing officer at Smithfield Foods, a local pork processing major.
Bryan Freeman, executive chairman of Real Good Foods, expressed confidence in Zimmer’s ability to lead the company, stating that Zimmer’s background aligns with the strategic actions planned to accelerate profitability.
“His appointment aligns with the slate of strategic actions we announced today. These are aimed at significantly accelerating the path to profitability and are a testament to our commitment to fellow shareholders,” Bryan said in a statement.
In response to his appointment, Zimmer expressed his dedication to guiding Real Good Foods through a transformative journey aimed at driving continued growth.
“The brand continues to perform well and has a strong, rapidly growing consumer base. I see a clear opportunity to unlock significant value by streamlining the supply chain, improving manufacturing efficiencies and instilling a culture of operational excellence,” Tim remarked.
He inherits the leadership of the company at a time of notable success, with net sales increasing by 48.0% to $55.6 million in the third quarter of 2023, compared to $37.6 million in the same period of 2022.
However, news of his appointment was announced alongside the plans to close its production facility in the City of Industry, California, by the end of June.
The company said the decision that is part of a strategic move to enhance capacity utilization, reduce fixed overhead costs, improve margins, and streamline the supply chain, according to the company.
Production in this facility is slated to be transferred to Real Good Foods’ factory in Bolingbrook, Illinois.
Little is known about the precise number of jobs affected by the shutdown of the City of Industry plant.
The company has however appointed Mark Dientz as senior vice president of operations to lead the upcoming changes to its supply chain.
Real Good Foods produces frozen breaded chicken and fish products, as well as frozen quesadillas, burritos and quesadillas, among other products.
Founded in 2016, the group markets to more than 15,000 stores across the US, including Costco, Walart, Kroger and Publix.
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