WINSTON-SALEM, N.C., June 28, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Ann Garner Riddle has been named President & Chief Executive Officer of TW Garner Food Company. She succeeds her brother, Ralph E. “Reg” Garner, who passed away last June after a long illness. Riddle holds a B.A. in Psychology from Hollins College in Virginia, and B.S. in Food Science from North Carolina State University. Prior to being named to her new post, Riddle served as a Vice President of TW Garner for the past 13 years. Her employment with the company began in January, 1972.
Riddle has been married to W. Arthur Riddle, III for 30 years and enjoys farming, needlework, and especially helping her husband with his NASA/JPL Solar System Ambassador Outreach Programs.
“Our corporate philosophy has always been to achieve steady, managed growth,” Riddle said.
“That’s the way Reg did it, that’s the way our dad and uncles did it, and that’s our plan moving forward.”
“Although I do wish with all my heart that this gap had never existed, and I miss my brother every day, I am sincerely excited about our future. I have enormous passion and enthusiasm or what we do and who we are,” Riddle continued. “We have a great history — and today we have the brands, the products, the team, and the plans in place to keep the business moving steadily ahead. I look forward to serving in the years to come.”
Ann’s uncle, Thad Garner, started the business in 1929, making and selling barbecue sauce. The company introduced Texas Pete® Hot Sauce in the early 1930s in response to customers asking for a spicier product.
TW Garner began making jams, jellies, and preserves in the early 1940s. After World War II, the company continued making these products, offering the most popular flavors like grape, strawberry, and apple. Garner stopped making jams, jellies, and preserves in January 2009.
In recent years, TW Garner has expanded into other product categories. In 2004, the company acquired Green Mountain Gringo®, a salsa and tortilla chip company in Vermont.
Today the company sells its products to supermarkets, military commissaries, troop feeding programs, convenience stores, and restaurants throughout the United States and the world. Texas Pete Hot Sauce is the No. 3 brand of hot sauce in the country in dollar sales (Source: Nielsen/IRI dollar sales).
Headquartered in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, TW Garner Food Company is now in its 81st year, its fifth generation of family ownership, and fourth generation of family management.