T. Marzetti Co. Names New Chief Research, Development and Quality Officer

June 10, 2025

Judith Mondello joins the specialty foods company taking the place of the retiring Dr. Steve Hill.

Judith Mondello, chief research, development and quality officer, T. Marzetti

Specialty foods company T. Marzetti Co., a subsidiary of Lancaster Colony Corp., has appointed Judith Mondello to be its new chief research, development and quality officer, effective June 9, 2025.

Mondello will lead R&D, product innovation, QA and regulatory compliance across the organization, taking the place of Dr. Steve Hill, who will retire later this year after holding his position since 2017. Hill will work with Mondello over the coming months as he transitions into an advisory role, the company noted.

Mondello brings more than 25 years of food and beverage industry experience to the role, having most recently served as senior vice president of R&D for Meat and Beverage Division at Campbell Soup Co. She led the R&D team that supports the soup, broth, sauce, pasta, frozen meals and beverage business unit there.

Previously, she held R&D leadership roles for 16 years at J.M. Smucker Co. in Consumer Foods, Away from Home, Strategic Innovation, and Baking segments. She also spent time working for Sara Lee, McKee Foods and Continental Baking Co.

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.