J.M. Smucker Co. Shuffles Executive Team in Attempt to Spark Hostess Growth

Feb. 27, 2025

Judd Freitag will attempt to return sweet baked snacks business unit to growth while maintaining growth in the U.S. retail pet foods segment.

Andy Hanacek

The J.M. Smucker Co. is promoting Judd Freitag to senior vice president and general manager, Pet and Sweet Baked Snacks, effective March 7, 2025, and will change the leadership structure of its supply chain and manufacturing organizations to strengthen oversight and execution.

In Freitag’s new role, he will lead the U.S. Retail Pet Foods and Sweet Baked Snacks segments, with a particular focus on returning the Hostess brand to growth while maintaining pet business growth. Freitag is currently the vice president, general manager and marketing for the U.S. Retail Pet Foods segment, and he has held leadership roles in finance, corporate strategy and brand marketing with the company. Freitag replaces Dan O’Leary, who will leave the company March 7.

In addition, Smucker will decouple its supply chain and manufacturing organizations, naming Bryan Hutson senior vice president, Information Services and Supply Chain. Randy Day will remain in charge of manufacturing as senior vice president, Operations.

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.