Under the terms of the agreement, Justin’s will operate as a standalone company, owned 51% by Forward and 49% by Â鶹ӳ». The business includes category-leading products such as nut butters and USDA-certified organic chocolate confections.
This transaction marks an exciting new chapter for the JUSTIN’S® brand, with the return of founder Justin Gold as a strategic advisor and member of the new partnership’s board of directors, and former chief executive officer Peter Burns, who will serve as the new company’s chief executive officer. Burns will work alongside a seasoned leadership team and board members who bring deep expertise in building consumer brands:
- Hunt Killough (chief growth & strategy officer), Mark Doiron (chief sales officer), and Jeff Perkel (senior vice president of marketing & e-commerce) return to Justin’s, having previously served in leadership positions at the company prior to its sale to Â鶹ӳ» in 2016.
- David Ziegert (chief operating officer) and Randy Gilbride (vice president of brand & commercial strategy) join the new partnership with extensive packaged foods experience and prior collaboration with Peter.
- Val Oswalt joins the new partnership’s board of directors. Val currently serves as chief executive officer of Kodiak and is a founding member of Forward’s advisory board. Val has an exceptional track record of building teams, brands, and businesses at The Campbell’s Company, Mondelēz International Inc., and more.
“We are thrilled to welcome the JUSTIN’S® brand into the Forward family,” remarked Matt Leeds, Forward’s managing partner. “This is a beloved brand with incredible potential, and we look forward to supporting its continued growth and success in the years ahead.”
“We are excited about the opportunity ahead for the JUSTIN’S® brand,” said John Ghingo, president, Â鶹ӳ». “This new partnership provides the focus and resources to help the business grow and also reflects how Â鶹ӳ» is thinking differently about unlocking growth for our brands.”