WESTERVILLE, OHIO — Kristin Bird has joined Lancaster Colony Corp. as president of T. Marzetti Co.’s Foodservice Division. In her new role, Ms. Bird will be responsible for overall management of the Foodservice Division, including the development and implementation of all strategic initiatives for the company’s food service operations and all sales to national chain restaurant accounts and national food service distributors.

Ms. Bird joins Lancaster from Basic American Foods, where she most recently was general manager responsible for the sales, marketing and profit of the company’s food service division that encompassed a broad portfolio of branded products and national chain restaurant accounts in addition to divisions for global food service sales and industrial sales and partnerships. Prior to that, Ms. Bird spent 10 years with Tyson Foods, including as senior vice-president of food service channel development. Earlier in her career Ms. Bird worked at Unilever, ConAgra Foods (now Conagra Brands) and McCain Foods.

Ms. Bird received a bachelor’s degree in political studies from Queens University in Kingston, Ont., and a master’s degree in business administration from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management.

“Her breadth of food industry experience and track record of accomplishments in food service provide a great fit for our organization,” said David A. Ciesinski, president and chief executive officer of Lancaster Colony.

In connection with Ms. Bird’s appointment, Lancaster Colony announced that Timothy A. Tate has retired after 41 years of service with the company. Mr. Tate had been senior vice-president of the Foodservice Division for the past eight years.