DOWNERS GROVE, IL — Leading food contract manufacturer Hearthside Food Solutions named Darlene Nicosia as its new CEO, replacing Chuck Metzger following a nearly five-year long-term succession plan.
“The Board is grateful to Chuck for his tremendous dedication and valuable contributions over the last several years,” said Chris Russell, managing director at Partners Group. “Under his leadership, Hearthside has made significant market and product accomplishments that will serve the company well in its next phase of growth.”
Nicosia has over three decades of food industry experience, with previous company roles at The Coca-Cola Co., Kraft and PepsiCo. She served as president of Coca-Cola’s Canada and Northeast US Zone, holding additional leadership roles including chief procurement officer throughout her 29-year tenure at the company.
“Hearthside’s organization and culture are poised for transformational performance and growth, and I look forward to leading the company on that valuable mission.” — Darlene Nicosia| CEO | Hearthside Food Solutions
“We sought a senior executive with proven abilities to foster and deliver transformational change across an enterprise and are delighted to have found Darlene Nicosia to lead this organization,” said John Flannery, managing director of Charlesbank Capital Partners, which holds Hearthside as a portfolio company along with Partners Group. “Her strong operational credentials, deep industry relationships and experience managing complex businesses in the food category will immediately benefit the business.”
Nicosia’s employment comes at a pivotal point in Hearthside’s growth. During the COVID-19 pandemic, the company expanded and added six bakeries over the past year. With a request for high quality becoming outsourced, manufacturing continues to grow. Hearthside believes that growth will come from firms that emphasize partner relationships with leading brands, delivering excellent performance and value.
“For me, it’s all about teams learning and growing together, achieving ever-greater levels of performance, deepening commitment to our customers and striving to be their preferred partner. With three decades at one of the world’s great consumer brands, I have seen what is possible when people, process, and purpose unite,” Nicosia said. “Hearthside’s organization and culture are poised for transformational performance and growth, and I look forward to leading the company on that valuable mission.”
Nicosia will return to Chicago for the new position. She graduated from the Ohio State University Fisher College of Business and attained an MSM from the Georgia Tech University Scheller College of Business.
