Kronos Foods, a privately held, leading manufacturer of premium gyros and other Mediterranean and specialty foods, has named Howard Eirinberg, 54, as its CEO.
Eirinberg, who succeeds long-time Kronos CEO Michael Austin, now chairman of Kronos Food Corp., joined Kronos in 2011 to lead all sales and marketing initiatives for the company’s operations in meat, bakery, dairy, dessert, restaurant and distribution. Eirinberg has grown Kronos’ sales by launching new products like chicken shawarma into the club and foodservice channels.
“The continued popularity of Mediterranean cuisine combined with emerging healthy and convenient eating trends has provided us with a unique opportunity to expand our foodservice presence while also introducing our products into a variety of other markets, including retail, club and convenience stores,” Eirinberg said. “Kronos’ dedicated team of skilled professionals is fully committed to bringing innovative and delicious new product options to foodservice and beyond.”
Before joining Kronos, Eirinberg, who has more than 30 years of food industry experience, served as president and COO of Vienna Beef Ltd., the Chicago-based manufacturer of hot dogs, sausages and other specialty foods, where he oversaw the company’s national foodservice and retail businesses. During his six-year tenure at Vienna Beef, Eirinberg was instrumental in launching new products into new channels, developing new customer segments and enhancing the company’s brand awareness. Previously, he ran the foodservice division of Fresh Express Inc., a fresh-cut vegetable processor, and held senior sales and marketing positions at salad dressings manufacturer Richelieu Foods and food conglomerate The Quaker Oats Co.
Eirinberg holds a bachelor of science degree in marketing from the University of Illinois in Urbana-Champaign, and a master’s degree in business administration from the Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in Evanston, Ill.
