Sun-Maid Growers of California names new president

Industry veteran Steve Loftus has been named president and chief operating officer of Sun-Maid Growers of California.

Loftus has held various leadership roles in his 15 years in the business at companies including TreeHouse Foods and Kraft Heinz. He most recently served as vice president, general manager of the Condiments Business Unit at TreeHouse Foods, where he led a unit with approximately $1 billion in revenues across 12 product categories and five production facilities.

“I’ve always admired Sun-Maid, and I’m excited to officially join the team as president and chief operating officer to help take the brand to the next level,” Loftus said in a news release. “In the new role, I plan to continue accelerating Sun-Maid’s transformation into a consumer and market-focused organization, while executing daily operations that contribute to the company’s growth strategies.”

Loftus will replace Braden Bender, Sun-Maid’s interim president since September 2022, who is returning to his role as chief financial officer.

Sun-Maid also announced that Harry Overly will step down as executive board chair to focus on his role as president and CEO of Flagstone Foods.

“Steve is an exceptional and proven leader in the food industry, and we’re looking forward to the contributions he will bring to the team as president and COO,” Overly said in the release. “Steve’s strong track record of results and expertise will be a key driver in building our success as we continue to grow, transforming the iconic Sun-Maid brand to be even more relevant to today’s shoppers.”

Founded in 1912, Sun-Maid Growers of California is a farmer’s cooperative of 600 grower families with vineyards in California’s Central Valley.