Sun Maid CEO to step down for new roles. What’s next for the Fresno-based raisin giant?

Harry Overly, the president and CEO of Sun-Maid Growers of California for almost five years, is stepping down from those two jobs next month as he takes on the leadership of another food business.

Fresno-based Sun Maid announced that Braden Bender, its chief financial officer, will serve as interim president as the search for a new president/CEO takes place. The transition becomes official Sept. 14. Overly will remain with Sun-Maid as executive chairman of its board.

The following day, Sept. 15, Overly will also become the chief executive officer of Minnesota-based Flagstone Foods.

The changes at Sun-Maid and Flagstone were reported this week by various food-industry publications.

Overly came to Sun-Maid in the fall of 2017, replacing Barry F. Kriebel, who was the company’s president since February 1986. Overly was hired to help the company rebuild and modernize its image.

During Overly’s tenure, Sun-Maid took what was described as a “monumental step” in 2019 to relocate its headquarters from Kingsburg, where it operates a large raisin-processing plant, to an office complex in northwest Fresno.

Months earlier, in September 2018, Sun-Maid endured a 15-day strike by hundreds of workers who marched at the plant for better wages and benefits.

The company also expanded its portfolio when it acquired Plum Organics, an organic brand of baby food, from the Campbell Soup Company.

The industry publication Food Business News quoted Overly as stating that “it’s been an honor and a privilege to lead the Sun-Maid organization.”

Overly expressed his appreciation to the company’s board, its employees and its grower-members for their support “as we transformed this beloved business and iconic brand to be more relevant to today’s shoppers.”

Steve Kister, chairman of Sun-Maid’s board of directors, praised and thanked Overly for his time with the company. “Harry is a considerate and ambitious leader and we’re fortunate to have had him lead our team over the last five years,” Kister was quoted as saying in Food Business News. “We’re thankful for the leadership, vision and outstanding performance Harry brought to Sun Maid.”

Kister added Overly “will continue to work with our board as executive chairman, to continue the momentum he’s established.”

Flagstone Foods, Overly’s next destination, manufactures and distributes private-label snacks such as dried nuts and trail mixes. In a press statement announcing Overly’s hiring, Flagstone said “Overly’s most recent experience at Sun-Maid provides particular insight into many of Flagstone’s markets, supply chain and customers via the dried fruit category.”

Prior to joining Sun-Maid, Overly was North America CEO of Deoleo, a Spanish maker of olive oil, for about a year. Previously, he spent six years in various leadership roles at TreeHouse Foods, an Illinois-based food company. TreeHouse Foods previously owned Flagstone Foods.