Texas Pete Announces Retirement of Frank Sherrill, VP – Sales and Addition of Steve DeCorte as GM of Sales.

WINSTON-SALEM, NC (January 6, 2011) – TW Garner Food Company announced today that Vice President of Sales, Frank Sherrill, retired December 31, 2010 after 31 years of service. He is succeeded by Steve DeCorte, General Manager of Sales.

“Although we will miss having Frank leading our Sales Force, we are excited to see him begin this new phase of his life,” said Ann Garner Riddle, President of TW Garner Food Company. “Frank has done so much to increase our sales and broaden our distribution. He may be leaving our employment roll, but as a member of the Garner family and a shareholder in our company, I know he will continue to have an interest in happenings around here.”

Over Sherrill’s career with TW Garner Food Company he was instrumental in securing and acquiring significant business for the company, as well as creating a broader market for Texas Pete® Hot Sauce. His drive and initiative led the way for consistent annual growth in sales and solidified Texas Pete® Hot Sauce’s position as a leader in the United States. Sherrill’s retirement plans include spending more time with Nancy, his wife of 39 years, and their three grandchildren, and pursuing various other hobbies that he enjoys.

Steve DeCorte has taken the helm of the TW Garner sales organization as General Manager of Sales where he will lead a team of 12 Region Managers who are responsible for the Retail, Foodservice, Industrial and Military Sales segments. Additionally, DeCorte will be seeking to expand market share in the U.S. and extend sales to global markets, as well as further develop TW Garner’s presence in specific channels in the food industry.

DeCorte comes to TW Garner Food Company with a wealth of experience in leading sales organizations of major food manufacturers, including his most recent role as Director of Sales for Land O’Lakes Incorporated. “A customer-centric approach and an understanding of brand equity, coupled with a sales organization that enhances these principles, have been the impetus for significant and sustainable incremental sales growth throughout my career,” said DeCorte.

Over the past two decades, DeCorte has engaged in every facet of the food industry, serving in management leadership roles for Unilever North American Ice Cream and Rich Products Incorporated, and held national account and field sales positions at Nabisco Incorporated, The Dannon Company and The Philip Morris Company.

“We are very excited to have Steve joining our team to bring his wealth of experience in food product and sales leadership to TW Garner,” said Garner Riddle. “His track record of success in increasing sales as well as developing innovative new opportunities for the food products he has represented will serve him well in bringing our renowned Texas Pete® and Green Mountain Gringo® brands to consumers.”

DeCorte has moved his family from Woodbury, Minnesota to Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

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