Potandon Produce LLC, the nation's largest distributor of fresh potatoes and onions and exclusive marketer of Green Giant Fresh® potatoes and onions, has added Michael A. Pennella to its Board of Directors. The appointment follows the recent hiring of Des Hague as CEO and President, and signals a deliberate push to deepen executive bench strength as the Idaho Falls-based company pursues long-term growth in the fresh produce category.
Career Scope
Pennella brings more than 40 years of leadership across retail, foodservice, and consumer packaged goods. As President of Hillshire and Sara Lee Bakery & Deli, he consolidated multiple operating companies into a unified foodservice organization that generated more than $1.7 billion in annual sales, overseeing brands including Ball Park, Jimmy Dean, State Fair, and Bryan Foods. He then moved to ConAgra Foods, where he assembled a consolidated foodservice business—anchored by Hunt's, Wesson, Healthy Choice, Armour, Eckrich, Butterball, Reddi-wip, and Egg Beaters—that surpassed $2 billion in annual revenue. Earlier roles spanned Seneca Foods, PepsiCo, Pillsbury, Michael Foods, Lamb Weston, Pilgrim's Pride, and Schwan's Foodservice, giving him broad exposure to the full foodservice and retail supply chain. Since stepping away from corporate leadership, he has advised food companies, private equity firms, and emerging brands on growth strategy, acquisitions, and product innovation.
Why It Matters for Operators
For foodservice buyers and retail category managers, the appointment is a signal of strategic intent. Potandon supplies fresh potato and onion programs to retailers and foodservice operators throughout North America, and a board member with Pennella's integration and commercialization track record could accelerate the company's innovation pipeline and customer-facing marketing efforts under the Green Giant Fresh banner.
"His experience building iconic brands, leading large-scale business transformations and creating high-performing organizations will be an invaluable resource as we continue positioning Potandon for long-term growth," said Jeff Sholl, Chairman of the Board for Potandon Produce LLC.
Hague, whose own CEO tenure is recent, framed the addition in operational terms. "His perspective, strategic insight and operational leadership will be incredibly valuable as we continue building on our momentum," said Des Hague, Chief Executive Officer of Potandon Produce LLC.
Pennella said the company's grower relationships and brand equity attracted him to the role. "Potandon has built an outstanding business with strong customer relationships, exceptional grower partnerships and one of the most recognized brands in fresh produce," he said.
The fresh potato and onion category sits at the intersection of foodservice cost management and retail convenience trends—two pressure points that operators and buyers are navigating closely heading into 2027. Moves like this one are worth watching for restaurant supply chain professionals tracking how major fresh produce suppliers are positioning themselves, and for beverage and food industry analysts following CPG-to-produce executive crossover activity. This story was first flagged to our team via Food & Beverage Magazine, a sister publication covering the broader food and beverage sector.
Written by Michael Politz, Author of Guide to Restaurant Success: The Proven Process for Starting Any Restaurant Business From Scratch to Success (ISBN: 978-1-119-66896-1), Founder of Food & Beverage Magazine, the leading online magazine and resource in the industry. Designer of the Bluetooth logo and recognized in Entrepreneur Magazine's "Top 40 Under 40" for founding American Wholesale Floral, Politz is also the Co-founder of the Proof Awards and the CPG Awards and a partner in numerous consumer brands across the food and beverage sector.
