Hormel Foods named Steve Lykken as the new group VP of supply chain, replacing the retiring Mark Coffey, according to a Feb. 1 press release. Lykken currently serves as group vice president of Jennie-O Turkey Store but will take on the new role on Monday, a Hormel Foods spokesperson told Supply Chain Dive in an email.
With over 30 years working with Hormel Foods, Lykken has experience in trade management, retail, marketing and supply chain operations. In his new role, Lykken will lead the company's One Supply Chain organization, which includes procurement, manufacturing, engineering, logistics, research and development, quality management and plant operations.
Lykken has been with Hormel Foods since 1992, starting in the grocery products segment. He has held positions such as SVP of the retail division of Jennie-O Turkey Store, president of Jennie-O Turkey Store and COO of Applegate Farms.
With an almost 40-year career, Mark Coffey is set to retire by the end of Q2 of FY2024, according to an 8-K filing. Coffey started with Hormel Foods in 1985, working at the company’s former Ottumwa, Iowa, plant.
Hormel Foods has been working on improving its supply chain operations for a while. In Q4 2023, the CPG’s executives told analysts that it was planning to invest $200 million over three years towards its supply chain. Some of the funds were set to be used on converting its Barron, Wisconsin, plant into a “value-added” facility to support its brand portfolio.
