Bell-Carter Foods Inc., a leader in the specialty condiment business and the nation’s largest table olive producer, has made some new hires and is growing its executive team.
Matthew L. Amigh is CFO, Doug Reifsteck is EVP of operations and Tom Rickard is VP of retail sales. CEO Tim T. Carter and VP of Strategy, Marketing and Organizational Development James F. Thomas round out the rest of the Bell-Carter executive team. The diverse backgrounds of the new executive team not only bring innovation and top-tier leadership to the rest of the company, but also drive the brand forward to reach new heights in its industry, according to Bell-Carter.
Amigh joined Bell-Carter as CFO in August and oversees the operations of company’s finance department. He has held many finance and operations roles, including accounting, treasury, financial planning and analysis, and information technology teams. Prior to joining Bell-Carter, Amigh held key finance and operations roles with leading consumer food and beverage organizations, including Mars Inc., Del Monte Foods and HJ Heinz. Amigh attended the University of Pittsburgh and earned an MBA from Robert Morris University. He is a Certified Public Accountant and an Army Reserve National Guard veteran.
Reifsteck is another newcomer to the Bell-Carter team. He joined the company as EVP of operations in August and is responsible for grower relations, receiving and storage, production, and logistics groups. His food and beverage industry career covers a variety of manufacturing and supply-chain roles. Before joining Bell-Carter, Reifsteck’s employers included Frito-Lay, Kraft, Ocean Spray and E.J. Gallo Winery. Reifsteck said he was drawn to Bell-Carter by its reputation as a family-owned industry leader with a passionate crew of employees.
Rickard, VP of retail sales, joined Bell-Carter in 2012. His retail food experience began at the age of 6 as he helped his father dust shelves and build store displays. As a young man, Rickard quickly progressed up the ranks at Safeway grocery stores, moving from courtesy clerk to cashier and assistant store manager. He has held sales and planning roles at Pillsbury as well as senior management positions at Mezzetta and Sutter Home.
“The entire Bell-Carter family is happy to welcome Matt, Doug and Tom to the team,” said CEO Carter. “All three bring expertise and years of experience that we know will help the Bell-Carter and Lindsay brands excel to new levels. We look forward to working together to continue to provide our consumers with the same excellent products they love.”
Great-grandson of company co-founder, Arthur Bell, Carter joined the family business when he was 15 years old. Today, as CEO, Carter has brought much to both brands through his educational background and life experiences, according to Bell-Carter. Not only has he lived abroad in the heart of Spain’s olive-growing region, he also earned an MBA from St. Mary’s College and took part in the Owner/President Management program at Harvard Business School.
Also part of the executive team is James F. Thomas, better known as “JT,” who joined the organization in 2011. He serves as the company’s VP of strategy, marketing and organizational development. Thomas spent more than two decades successfully growing some of the world’s largest consumer brands for Diageo and Quaker Oats. Having been a collegiate basketball player and coach, he places a strong emphasis on the value of teamwork and training, according to Bell-Carter. He is a graduate of the University of Alberta, and earned an MBA from California State University East Bay with a dual emphasis in finance and marketing.
