Mars Inc. has named Lauren Spear as CEO and general manager of Mars’ Nature’s Bakery unit.
Spear has been with Mars four years, most recently as vice president of the company’s Walmart, Sam’s and McLane US snacking sales. Before that, she spent two years directing Nestle’s Walmart sales. Still earlier, she was involved in Procter & Gamble’s sales to Walmart and Sam’s Club.
She replaces Steve Gardiner, who left Nature’s Bakery in September to become CEO of Death Wish Coffee Co. Mars’ Kind snack business acquired Nature’s Bakery in late 2020.
About the Author
Dave Fusaro
Editor in Chief
Dave Fusaro has served as editor in chief of Food Processing magazine since 2003. Dave has 30 years experience in food & beverage industry journalism and has won several national ASBPE writing awards for his Food Processing stories. Dave has been interviewed on CNN, quoted in national newspapers and he authored a 200-page market research report on the milk industry. Formerly an award-winning newspaper reporter who specialized in business writing, he holds a BA in journalism from Marquette University. Prior to joining Food Processing, Dave was Editor-In-Chief of Dairy Foods and was Managing Editor of Prepared Foods.