Matt Alonso Appointed CEO of SunFoods,LLC
SunFoods, LLC announced today that Matt Alonso has been named Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. operation that continues its expansion under the HINODE brand name.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Tuesday, February 16, 2011
CONTACT
Shelly NewtonSunFoods, LLC
Phone: (530) 665-3075
Matt Alonso Appointed Chief Executive Officer of SunFoods, LLC
Woodland CA – SunFoods, LLC announced today that Matt Alonso has been named Chief Executive Officer of the U.S. operation that continues its expansion under the HINODE brand name. Alonso will report directly to SunRice, and parent company CEO, Gary Helou. Alonso joined SunFoods in September 2010 as Chief Operating Officer and was responsible for the Companies’ Operations based in Woodland, California. Prior to joining SunFoods, Alonso spent 14 years with Busch Agricultural Resources Inc. During this time he gained extensive rice operations and marketing experience as General Manager, Pacific International Rice Mills, LLC (PIRMI).
As CEO, Alonso will continue his work with the SunFoods team to manage the growing demands of its domestic rice brand, value added products and international medium grain consumers around the world. “We are a part of a dynamic rice food company whose vision is to become the world’s favorite rice food company. Through personal initiative and dedication of our people we will deliver the operational and business excellence required to grow and support the growth of Hinode and SunRice Brands”, says Alonso.
SunFoods, LLC has invested heavily in the latest manufacturing technology and has grown its retail distribution of HINODE rice products to include fragrant rices, microwavable 90 second rice and thin rice and corn cakes. “Matt has been a valuable addition to the SunFoods team. Under his leadership Matt has provided the operational excellence required to support the innovation, growth and range of the HINODE brand”, says SunRice CEO, Gary Helou.
Alonso replaces Tom Atkinson II, a SunFoods, LLC shareholder and Director who has served in the CEO position since the Company was formed in 2008. Mr. Atkinson will remain a board director and shareholder in the Company and continue to serve SunFoods, LLC in a consulting role. “We’re delighted to retain Tom’s ongoing involvement in the business, as an important shareholder and consultant. Tom has been a leader in the California Rice Industry for over 35 years. He brings vast experience to California rice and SunFoods, LLC as a rice grower, rice processor and marketer of the growing HINODE brand”, says SunRice CEO Gary Helou. Mr. Atkinson will continue to assist the company with the support of the HINODE brand expansion and SunFoods marketing efforts in the Pacific.
Established in 1934, the HINODE brand is owned by SunFoods, LLC with headquarters in Woodland, California. SunFoods, LLC was formed in October 2008 as a joint venture between Australian based Ricegrowers Limited (trading as SunRice) and local California rice farmers. HINODE has grown its distribution throughout the Northwest, Southwest and Hawaii with a full line of rice varieties that are sold in a bright yellow bag and long grain brown rice sold with a resealable zipper.
SunRice is one of the largest rice food companies with a global footprint supplying quality dry rice and value added products to close to 60 countries around the world. Over the last two years, SunFoods, LLC joint venture has invested heavily in the HINODE rice brand with trade promotions and advertising. Through the combined purchasing volume of all SunRice subsidiaries, the HINODE brand sources quality rice products at competitive rates from around the world.###