BNET Industries

Last Fiscal Year Sales:$927.7M
  • Private
  • US
Dow Jones Description

Birds Eye Foods was founded in the early sixties as Curtice Burns Inc., in partnership with a farmer cooperative, Pro-Fac Cooperative. The Company grew out of Western New York, but over the years diversified and expanded geographically, acquiring companies with regional strengths. A portfolio of fruit and vegetable products soon grew to include items such as snacks, canned meals and salad dressings. Today, Birds Eye Foods is a privately-held food marketing company whose focus is on innovation and new products that provide value and convenience to consumers.

Chief Executive Officer
Neil Harrison
Number of Employees 2,660
Contact Information

90 Linden Oaks

Rochester, New York 14625

NAICS Code Frozen Fruit, Juice, and Vegetable Manufacturing: 311411

Recent Events

  • Blackstone chilling with Birds Eye

    11/20/09 - Merger / Acquisition - View Story

  • Blackstone-owned Pinnacle Foods Group buys Birds Eye Foods for $1.3 billion

    11/19/09 - Merger / Acquisition - View Story

  • Blackstone-owned Pinnacle buys Birds Eye for $1.3 billion

    11/19/09 - Merger / Acquisition - View Story

  • BRIEF-Pinnacle Foods acquires Birds Eye Foods in a $1.3 billion deal

    11/19/09 - Merger / Acquisition - View Story

  • Birds Eye Foods to be acquired by Pinnacle Foods Group

    11/23/09 - Merger / Acquisition - View Story

  • Blackstone Pinnacle Brands Plans to Acquire Birds Eye Foods for $1.3B

    11/19/09 - Merger / Acquisition - View Story

  • Blackstone Unit to Buy Birds Eye

    11/19/09 - Merger / Acquisition - View Story

  • Blackstone Unit to Buy Birds Eye Foods

    11/20/09 - Merger / Acquisition - View Story

  • Birds Eye Foods plans to go public

    10/10/09 - Financial Announcement - View Story

  • WRAPUP 1-Dole sets IPO terms, Birds Eye aims to go public

    10/09/09 - New Investment - View Story

  • Indiana inventor says big companies stole his idea

    8/29/09 - Lawsuit Filed - View Story

  • Fennville, Birds Eye seek water solution

    7/02/09 - Lawsuit Filed - View Story

Decision Makers

Name (plus bio) Position
Neil Harrison Chief Executive Officer
Earl L. Powers Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Secretary
David E. Hogberg Executive Vice President, Marketing & Business Development
Lois Warlick-Jarvie Senior Vice President, Admin
Robert G. Montgomery Senior Vice President, Frozen Sales
Ron Trine Senior Vice President, Frozen Supply Chain
Bea Slizewski Vice President, Corp Communications
John Blough Snyder of Berlin Vice President of Human Resources and Purchasing
Kent Roberts Vice President
Larry Hahn Vice President, Sales
Linda Nelson Vice President and Controller
Paul DeGenova Vice President, Commodity Management
Randy Zeno Vice President, Marketing
Amy LaVigne Director, Marketing, Dry Goods
David Leferman Senior Director, Customer & Category Management
Kurt Buckman Director, Quality Sys Management
Michael Cocca Director, Retail Sales
Mike Curtin Director, Marketing, New Prods
Wendy Preiser Director, Marketing, Frozen Branded Prods
Jim Fazioli Manager, Field Trade
Karen Emisse Manager, Purchasing
Bill Kalaf Sales Rep
Clarence Birdseye Head
John Heslin Sales Rep
Allan W. Overhiser Director
Daniel S. O'Connell Director
Daniel S. O. Connell Director

Board of Directors

Name (plus bio) Position
Brian K. Ratzan Board of Directors
David B. Vermylen Board of Directors
David M. Hooper Board of Directors
Gregg A. Ostrander Board of Directors
Kevin A. Mundt Board of Directors
Patrick W. Rose Board of Directors
Peter Calamari Board of Directors
Peter R. Call Board of Directors
Stephen P. Donovan Board of Directors

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Current
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. President Current
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Chairman Current
Solo Cup Company Board of Directors Current
Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Former
Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. President Former
H.J. Heinz Company president Former
H.J. Heinz Company senior vice president Former
Lever Brothers Former
Atkins Nutritionals, Inc. Chairman Former

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer and Secretary Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Executive Vice President, Marketing & Business Development Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Senior Vice President, Admin Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Senior Vice President, Frozen Sales Current
Sara Lee Corporation Former

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Senior Vice President, Frozen Supply Chain Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Vice President, Corp Communications Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Snyder of Berlin Vice President of Human Resources and Purchasing Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Vice President Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Vice President, Sales Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Vice President and Controller Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Vice President, Commodity Management Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Vice President, Marketing Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Director, Marketing, Dry Goods Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Senior Director, Customer & Category Management Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Director, Quality Sys Management Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Director, Retail Sales Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Director, Marketing, New Prods Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Director, Marketing, Frozen Branded Prods Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Manager, Field Trade Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Manager, Purchasing Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Sales Rep Current

Clarence Birdseye, whose share of the purchase was just under a million dollars, was to remain with the new corporation to head up research and development. He directed 22 chemists and food technicians at the laboratory set up by the new corporation in Gloucester, Massachusetts. This research group came up with the use of coated cellophane as a wrapping to go over the cartons in which the food was frozen. It was at this laboratory that the portable multi-plate freezer was invented and built. This group also developed over a hundred varieties of processed foods which could be successfully frozen.

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Head Current

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Sales Rep Current

Allan W. Overhiser has been a Director of Pro-Fac since March 1994, a Vice President since March 2004, and First Vice President and Treasurer since March 2005 and a member of Pro-Fac since 1984. Mr. Overhiser also serves as a Director of Birds Eye Foods and has served in this capacity since May 2004. Mr. Overhiser is a fruit farmer (A.W. Overhiser Orchards; South Haven, Michigan).

Organization Position Status
Pro-Fac Cooperative, Inc. First Vice President, Treasurer Current
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Director Current
Pro-Fac Cooperative, Inc. Board of Directors Current

Organization Position Status
Vestar Capital Partners Managing Director & Head, Diversified Industries Sector Current
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Corporate Finance Group Former
Vestar Capital Partners Team Member Former
Harvard Business School MBA Former
University of Michigan M.B.A. Former
University of Michigan B.A Former

Organization Position Status
Vestar Capital Partners Chief Executive Officer Former
Huish Detergents Inc. Director Current
Money Studies, Inc. Director Current
National Mentor Holdings Inc. Director Current
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Director Current
Argo-Tech Corporation Board of Directors Current
Solo Cup Company Board of Directors Current
Yale School of Management Advisory Board Member Current
St. John Knits International, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Brown University Board of Directors Current
Concentric Medical, Inc. Board Observer Current
Aavin member of advisory board Current
Acumen Pharmaceuticals, Inc. Board Observer Current
NeuroVentures Capital, LLC Founding Member Former
Vestar Capital Partners Founder Current
University of Virginia M.B.A Former
The George Washington University Llb Former
Brown University A.B. Former

Daniel S. O Connell is a director of the Company, having served in that capacity since February 2004. Mr. O Connell is the Chief Executive Officer and founder of Vestar Capital Partners. Prior to founding Vestar Capital Partners in 1998, Mr. O Connell was a Managing Director and Co-Head of the Management Buyout Group at The First Boston Corporation. Mr. O Connell is currently a director of Birds Eye Foods, Inc., Sun Products Corporation, Sunrise Medical, Inc., St. John Knits International, Inc., National Mentor and Radiation Therapy Services, Inc. Brian P. O Connor is a Director of the Company, having served in that capacity since April 2008. In August 2000, Mr. O Connor joined Vestar and most recently has served as a Principal since January 2009. Prior to that time he served in other capacities including as Vice President from December 2006 to December 2008. Prior to joining Vestar, Mr. O Connor was a member of the Merchant Banking group at Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette from August 1998 to June 2000. Pursuant to the Stockholders Agreement between the Company, SCIC, Vestar, SCC Holding and certain other parties, Messrs. Mundt, Harrison, Long, Macadam, O Connell and O Connor serve on the Company s board of directors as designees of Vestar; and Messrs. Korzenski, Robert L. Hulseman, James R. Hulseman, James D. Hulseman and Ms. Sheila M. Hulseman serve on the Company s board of directors as designees of SCC Holding, and Mr. Mundt serves as Chairman of the board of the Company as Vestar s designee to that position. There are no other arrangements or understandings between any member of the board of directors or executive officer and any other person pursuant to which that person was elected or appointed to his or her position.

Organization Position Status
Vestar Capital Partners Chief Executive Officer Current
Vestar Capital Partners Founder Current
St. John Knits International, Inc. Director Current
Argo-Tech Corporation Board of Directors Current
National Mentor Holdings Inc. Director Current
Solo Cup Company Board of Directors Current
Radiation Therapy Services, Inc. Director Current
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Director Current

Organization Position Status
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. President Current
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. Chief Operating Officer Current
Aeropostale, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Board of Directors Current
The Cookie Company CEO Former
Kellogg Company President and CEO Former
The Cookie Company Vice President of Marketing and Development Former
TreeHouse Foods, Inc. Principal Former
The Tree House, Inc. Principal Former
Keebler Company Former
Aeropostale, Inc. Nominating and Corporate Governance Committee Chairman Former
The Cookie Company Chairman Former
New York University M.B.A. Former
Georgetown University B.A. Former

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Board of Directors Current

Organization Position Status
Arctic Cat Inc. Executive Chairman, Michael Foods Inc. Minneapolis, Mn Current
Michael Foods, Inc. Chairman Current
Arctic Cat Inc. Board of Directors Current
Carlisle Companies Incorporated Board of Directors Current
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Michael Foods, Inc. Chief Executive Officer Former
Michael Foods, Inc. President Former
Michael Foods, Inc. Coo Former

Organization Position Status
Vestar Capital Partners Managing Director and President of Vestar Resources Former
Huish Detergents Inc. Director Current
Vestar Capital Partners Manager Former
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Telephone & Data Systems, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Oliver, Wyman & Company Managing Director Former
Vestar Capital Partners partner Former
Bain & Company Consultant Former
Vestar Capital Partners Team Member Former
Harvard Business School MBA Former
Brown University BA Former

Mr. Rose has served on the Company's board of directors since 1992. He is a private investor. Mr. Rose served as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Bumble Bee Seafoods, Inc. from June 1985 to August 1988. He served as Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer of Van Camp Seafood, Inc., from March 1992 to August 1997. Since 2003, he has served on the board of directors of Birds Eye Foods, Inc. and as United States Commissioner to the Inter-American Tropical Tuna Commission.

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Board of Directors Current
IHOP Corp. Board of Directors Current
Bumble Bee Seafoods, LLC Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer Former

Organization Position Status
Colorado Coalition for The Homeless Treasurer, Vice President, Vestar Capital Partners Current
Platte River Ventures Managing Director Current
Duff and Phelps, LLC Board of Directors Current
Solo Cup Company Board of Directors Current
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Hetsco, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Colorado Coalition for The Homeless Board of Directors Current
Consolidated Container Company LLC Board of Directors Current
Vestar Capital Partners Vice President Former
Vestar Capital Partners Principal, Consumer Former
Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc. Former
Mergers and Acquisitions Board of Directors Former
Yale University B.A. Former
Mergers and Acquisitions Member Former

Organization Position Status
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Board of Directors Current

Organization Position Status
Consolidated Container Company LLC Board of Directors Current
Birds Eye Foods, Inc. Board of Directors Current
Consolidated Container Company LLC Manager Former

Executive News

  • Michael Foods Q2 Earnings Call Transcript

    Seeking Alpha - 8/26/09 - View Story

  • TreeHouse Foods appoints new directors

    TradingMarkets - 8/10/09 - View Story

  • TreeHouse Foods reports rise in income

    Pittsburgh Post-Gazette - 8/07/09 - View Story