In the contract manufacturing sector, now growing at an estimated 10% annually, Hearthside Food Solutions may be a new name to the baking, cereal and snack industries, but the three businesses it acquired during the past two years have been serving the major players in the food industry for 80 years.

Additionally, Hearthside’s executives have extensive experience working for food and contract manufacturing businesses. Rich Scalise, CEO of the Downers Grove, IL-based company, has more than 33 years in the food industry and previously served as president of Ralcorp’s Frozen Bakery Products and president and COO of ConAgra’s $3 billion refrigerated foods division.


Hearthside’s CFO James Wojciechowski also has three decades of experience, having been the top financial officer at Ralcorp’s Frozen Bakery Products and other companies. Brian McNamara, vice-president, sales and marketing, is a 30-year food industry veteran who worked at ConAgra, Quaker Oats and Heinz. Dwayne Hughes, vice-president, supply chain, has more than 20 years of experience working for companies such as Quaker, Nabisco, ConAgra and Ralcorp.

Other senior managers include Steve England, vice-president, human resources, with more than 30 years in the packaging and food industry, and Bob Burchfield, chief information officer, with two decades of experience at food and information technology companies.

Wind Point Partners, based in Chicago, IL, is a private equity firm, founded in 1983. It has more than $2 billion in capital under management. Its diverse portfolio has included such companies as Nonni’s and Bakery Chef, both of which it has sold to other businesses during the past few years.

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