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C.J. Foods Appoints Paul Wagstaff to Board of Directors

Pet Age Staff//April 17, 2020//

C.J. Foods Appoints Paul Wagstaff to Board of Directors

Pet Age Staff //April 17, 2020//

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Press release: C.J. Foods

C.J. Foods Inc. (“CJF”), a custom manufacturer of a broad portfolio of specialty pet food for leading U.S. super premium brands, has appointed Paul Wagstaff, an industry leader in consumer packaged goods and merger and acquisition integration, to its board of directors. The board was expanded following the company’s acquisition of American Nutrition Inc. (“ANI”), and the combined entity is the largest independent manufacturer of super premium pet food in the country, producing more than 1 billion pounds of pet food annually.

Wagstaff joins CJF by transitioning from his former role serving on the advisory board of ANI. He will concentrate his efforts on bringing his expertise in consumer product marketing to expand the company’s innovation portfolio. The board also includes Tod Morgan and Bill Behnken, who previously led CJF and ANI, respectively.

“Paul brings his expertise in the consumable category to drive our innovation agenda,” said David McLain, CEO, C.J. Foods. “He also brings deep experience and keen insight on how to integrate companies following an acquisition, and we believe that his counsel will create a major impact.”

Wagstaff is the co-founder of Embassy Park Investment Company LLC, an investment and advisory firm that acts as both an investor and adviser to businesses in the manufacturing and or sales and marketing of branded, private label and co-manufactured food products. Previously, Wagstaff was co-founder and CEO of Eagle Family Foods, a private equity backed CPG food company, which he established after completing the platform acquisition of Eagle Brand Milk from The J.M. Smucker Company. Wagstaff also served as president of The J.M. Smucker Company US Retail Consumer Foods Division where he successfully led a $2.4 billion business in net sales.

“The expanded product portfolio and national manufacturing footprint resulting from this acquisition has created a range of opportunities for us,” said Wagstaff. “I’m looking forward to being part of a team that redefines the pet food category for our customers and their consumers.”