INDIANAPOLIS (February 2, 2023) - Food technology company Epogee® LLC, maker of EPG—the category-defining ingredient that eliminates most calories from fat— announces the appointment of Ron Savelli to President and Chief Executive Officer. Savelli is taking the reins from Founder and Acting President, David Rowe, who will resume his previous role as Chief Technology Officer.
Savelli will lead the company’s new product and growth strategies, as it continues to expand into new categories. The company will rely on Savelli’s deep industry expertise in food ingredients to continue its expansion and innovation. He’ll draw upon his three decades in the food and bakery industry with an accomplished record of success in growth businesses, mergers, and acquisitions. Most recently, Savelli served as Operating Partner for The Riverside Company where he oversaw NuStef Baking in Toronto, Canada, and Parker Products in Ft. Worth Texas, for the private-equity venture. His latest role was as President of Creative Foods Ingredients in Perry New York.
“I am excited to have Ron joining us to lead the company,” says Rowe. “He brings a wide range of skills and experiences that will be invaluable as we work with customers to deliver the unique health and sensory advantages of EPG to a much wider group of consumers across food categories.”
As part of the Epogee leadership team Savelli is joined by Richard Lan as Chairman and J. Andrew Bolt as Chief Financial Officer. Lan is a Senior Advisor at The Riverside Company, following an impressive career in the food industry, including 20 years in leadership roles at Maple Leaf Foods USA and Maple Leaf Foods Bakery Group. Prior to his career with Maple Leaf, Lan held management positions at other food and beverage companies, including Dell Products Corp. and McCain Foods, Ltd. Bolt comes to Epogee with an extensive background in finance, operations and private equity with US and global companies. Most recently, Bolt has served as the CFO of Arbre Group Holding, a privately owned supplier of frozen fruits and vegetables to food service, retail, and institutional channels.
Rowe adds, “Today’s health and wellness-focused consumer is looking for new options that sharply cut calories and saturated fat in foods. With almost 40 million servings to date, EPG has demonstrated that it can deliver on these needs. EPG is appealing to a broader segment of food manufacturers. I’m confident Ron, Richard, and Andy will help Epogee build on our successful growth and the excitement of our customers who have adopted EPG into their products.”
Having spent most of his career in the food ingredient and flavor industry, Ron says he is grateful for the industry’s response to changing consumer trends. “Over the years the drive for ‘better for you food’ has driven many food evolutions from transparency in ingredient declarations and nutritional labeling, natural ingredients, organic food development and allergy sensitivity to name a few,” states Savelli. “When I was introduced to Epogee and the technology around EPG I was so excited to understand how this technology can change nutrition and obesity in our food supply. I didn’t hesitate to join the team to help this new food ingredient trend.”
Savelli spent four years as President and CEO of Eatem Foods and led the sale to ADM in 2015. Prior to that, he served as President and CEO of CSM Bakery Products, an industry leader and the country’s largest bakery products supplier, where he managed the integration of Best Brands Company with HC Brill Enterprise, serving key accounts such as Walmart, Safeway, Kroger, Brinker International, Burger King and Wendy’s. The combined enterprise created the largest bakery supply company in the U.S., with 14 factories and over 3,400 employees. He also served as CEO and President of Caravan Ingredients from 2005-2010.
He is a board member of the American Bakers Association, Retail Bakers Association, and National Restaurant Association and Progressive Gourmet. Savelli was awarded the Best New Product Award from the National Restaurant Association in 1999. Ron and his wife and family (three adult children) reside in Upper Saddle River, New Jersey where he enjoys family activities, skiing, and golf.
About Epogee
Epogee fulfills the greatest unmet need in food today: dramatically reduced calories without any compromise. Today’s food innovators are formulating with EPG in a variety of applications because of its groundbreaking capability to deliver the functional benefits of traditional fats while eliminating 92% of fat calories for each unit of fat replaced. Now manufacturers can make better-for-you foods with the great taste and texture consumers expect and love. Learn more about Epogee’s fat alternative, EPG, by visiting: https://www.epogee.com, https://www.linkedin.com/company/epogee-llc/ and @EPG4BetterFood
