Kraft Heinz Australia has announced the appointment of Simon Laroche as its new chief executive officer.
Laroche is a new addition to the FMCG giant, bringing in-depth experience in the sector from senior roles at Canada’s largest brewery company, Labatt Breweries, where he was most recently vice president of sales.
Laroche said he is delighted to lead Kraft Heinz into its next phase of growth and detailed plans for developing the business.
“It’s an exciting, fast-moving business, boasting iconic brands which Aussies love. Brands which are rich in heritage with products that bring great innovation to their categories,” Laroche said in a statement on Tuesday.
He will be tasked with growing the business, strengthening relationships with retailers and supply chain partners as well as extending the company’s local product innovation. Development of the company’s people is also a key priority for the new CEO.
“Most importantly, what sets Kraft Heinz apart is its people. The business has an outstanding team – all true talents in their fields, bringing energy, passion and creativity to their work each day.”
Laroche also highlighted plans to capitalise on the growing demand for plant-based products.
“My immediate focus areas are accelerating the company’s success and growth path through brand investment and innovation. Our new product development is centred on meeting emerging food trends – from the growing demand for plant-based products and multi-sensory food experiences to snacks that support healthy lifestyles. We have a number of exciting new products in the pipeline,” Laroche added.
In the last year, Kraft Heinz Australia has added a number of brands to its portfolio including Gravox, Fountain and SAXA following the acquisition of Cerebos in 2018.
