Urban Farmer Appoints Mark Fleming as CEO

MANTENO, Ill. — Urban Farmer, a Paine Schwartz Partners portfolio company and manufacturer of plant-based specialty dough products, announced that Mark Fleming has been appointed Chief Executive Officer, effective May 1. Fleming succeeds Steve Jungmann, who is stepping down as CEO but will remain with the company as a strategic advisor to support the transition.

Fleming brings a 25-year record of driving sales and profitable growth for branded, private label and food service businesses at leading consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies. Over the course of his career, he has managed brands such as Heinz ketchup, Smart Ones frozen meals, A1 steak sauce, Honey Bunches of Oats cereal, Lysol cleaning products and Lofthouse cookies.

“Mark is an accomplished executive in the food co-manufacturing and baked goods industries, and we are pleased to appoint him as the company's next CEO,” said Betsy Holden, Urban Farmer Chair of the Board. “Over the last two years, Urban Farmer has made significant strides solidifying its position as the leader in the better-for-you frozen food space. We believe that Mark's deep operational expertise and relevant industry experience will enable him to successfully lead the company as it begins its next phase of growth. We are grateful to Steve for his leadership and the significant role he has played in expanding customer relationships, driving rapid growth and building a high-caliber team.”

Added Fleming, “I am thrilled to become the CEO of Urban Farmer, a company I have admired for being a leader in the growing better-for-you space. I look forward to working closely with my colleagues on the leadership team, our partners at Paine Schwartz and the rest of Urban Farmer's talented employee base. Together, we will build on the company's strong foundation and drive sustainable growth by innovating, enhancing efficiency and providing customers the high-quality, better-for-you products they expect from Urban Farmer.”

Said Jungmann, “It has been a privilege to serve as Urban Farmer's CEO, and I am proud of what we have achieved together. As I step away from the company for personal reasons, I want to thank the tremendous Urban Farmer team for their support, hard work and dedication. With the strong foundation we have built, the board and I have agreed that now is the right time to transition the company's leadership. Urban Farmer has significant opportunities still ahead, and I look forward to working with Mark to ensure a smooth transition for all our stakeholders.”