Broadens expertise across overall food sector
and re-achieves Board gender diversity target
MARKHAM,
ON, June 30, 2023 /CNW/ - Pet Valu
Holdings Ltd. ("Pet Valu" or the "Company") (TSX: PET), the leading
Canadian specialty retailer of pet food and pet-related supplies,
is pleased to announce Danielle
Barran will be appointed to the Board of Directors (the
"Board") effective July 2, 2023. Ms.
Barran and Lawrence Molloy, who was
elected to the Board at Pet Valu's Annual General Meeting of
Shareholders held on May 9, 2023,
succeed Rick Puckett and
Steven Townsend who have retired
from the Board.
Ms. Barran brings over 25 years of experience in the North
American food and beverage industry, and currently serves as
President of McCain Foods' North American Potato and Canada
Divisions. She is a results-driven executive, known for her
authentic leadership, business transformation and DE&I
advocacy. Prior to joining McCain Foods in 2018, Ms. Barran held
multiple senior positions at J.M. Smucker Company over a 16-year
period, including leadership roles in its pet, coffee, and natural
foods operations. As Vice President of Commercial Strategy for its
pet division, she set the strategic growth agenda for iconic pet
brands such as Meow Mix®, Natural
Balance® and Milk-Bone®. Ms. Barran
holds a Master of Business Administration from Ivey Business School
at Western University, and an ICD.D
designation.
"We are excited to have Danielle join our Board," said
Richard Maltsbarger, Pet Valu's
President and Chief Executive Officer. "She brings a depth of
experience with iconic consumer packaged goods including pet
products, a keen eye for consumer marketing of those brands and
expands our Board's experience across the overall food sector."
"I am delighted to join Pet Valu's Board of Directors and
support the business through its next stage of growth," said Ms.
Barran. "With a reputable brand known everywhere across
Canada, Pet Valu is uniquely
positioned to capture growth in the resilient pet industry. I look
forward to leveraging my pet industry experience to support
management's delivery of sustainable and profitable growth over the
long term."
"We are also pleased that Pet Valu will re-achieve its Board
gender diversity target with Danielle's appointment," continued Mr.
Maltsbarger. "Diversity across all levels of management and
governance is a key element in our ongoing success, enabling us to
make informed strategic decisions that better relate to our diverse
customer and franchise owner populations."
About Pet Valu
Pet Valu is Canada's leading
retailer of pet food and pet-related supplies with over 700
corporate-owned or franchised locations across the country. For
more than 40 years, Pet Valu has earned the trust and loyalty of
pet parents by offering knowledgeable customer service, a premium
product offering and engaging in-store services. Pet Valu's
neighbourhood stores offer more than 7,000 competitively-priced
products, including a broad assortment of premium, super premium,
holistic and award-winning proprietary brands. To learn more,
please visit: www.petvalu.ca.
Forward looking and other
cautionary statements
This news release contains "forward-looking information" within
the meaning of applicable securities legislation, which reflects
the Company's current expectations regarding future events.
Forward-looking information is based on a number of assumptions,
and is subject to a number of risks and uncertainties, many of
which are beyond the Company's control. Such risks and
uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the risk factors
discussed in the Company's annual information form dated
March 6, 2023. Actual results could
differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking
information. Unless otherwise noted or the context otherwise
indicates, the forward-looking information contained in this news
release is provided as of the date of this news release and Pet
Valu does not undertake any obligation to update such
forward-looking information, whether as a result of new
information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly
required under applicable securities laws.
SOURCE Pet Valu Canada Inc.