Welch’s Names New Chief Research and Development Officer

Jan. 10, 2025

Company elevates Christine Kwiat to the post, rewarding her pivotal role in helping redefine innovation processes and grow the portfolio over the last four years.

Andy Hanacek

Christine Kwiat, chief research and development officer, Welch's

Welch’s has appointed Christine Kwiat to chief research and development officer effective immediately, according to a release from the fruit-based foods and beverages company.

Kwiat has been with Welch’s since November 2020, and according to the company, she has been crucial to driving initiatives to redefine innovation processes and grow the portfolio as part of Welch’s transformation.

She brings more than 20 years of leadership experience in R&D, quality and innovation. Before she joined Welch’s, Kwiat served as vice president of R&D Innovation, Product & Portfolio Management for Schwan’s Food Co. She has also held leadership roles at Kraft Foods, Oscar Mayer and Nabisco, where she directed several successful product launches and holds five patents in food technology and packaging innovation, the release noted.

About the Author

Andy Hanacek | Senior Editor

Andy Hanacek has covered meat, poultry, bakery and snack foods as a B2B editor for nearly 20 years, and has toured hundreds of processing plants and food companies, sharing stories of innovation and technological advancement throughout the food supply chain. In 2018, he won a Folio:Eddie Award for his unique "From the Editor's Desk" video blogs, and he has brought home additional awards from Folio and ASBPE over the years. In addition, Hanacek led the Meat Industry Hall of Fame for several years and was vice president of communications for We R Food Safety, a food safety software and consulting company.