HL People for Nov. 28 - Dec. 4

Townsend Named to UNFI CEO Position, Company Shuffles Board Positions

Steven Townsend will take over as CEO of distributor United Natural Foods Inc. (Nasdaq: UNFI), beginning Jan. 1, 2003. Townsend takes the reins from Michael Funk, who moves to chairman of the board, according to a Dec. 2 announcement. Townsend has been with UNFI, and one of its predecessors, Cornucopia Natural Foods, for more than 20 years; he has been president of the company since April 2002.

Funk, a UNFI co-founder, will continue to sit on the board, moving from the position of board vice chair to chairman; Thomas Simone, a board member since 1996, will switch board positions with Funk. Funk founded Mountain People's Warehouse, which is now a wholly owned subsidiary of United Natural Foods, in 1976.

ProOrganics Appoints Benedetti Sales VP



Burnabay, Canada-based ProOrganics Marketing Inc., an organic foods distributor, recently appointed John Benedetti as sales VP. Previously, Benedetti was North West regional director at Canada's natural foods retail chain, Capers Community Markets, the Canadian division of Wild Oats Markets (Nasdaq: OATS). He also worked for Safeway for 19 years. Benedetti's responsibilities include overseeing all aspects of sales.

Loders Croklaan Hires West Coast Account Manager



The Netherlands-based Loders Croklaan Lipid Nutrition has hired Jennifer Haberman as its west coast account manager. Before coming to Loders, Haberman was a technical sales representative for EM Industries, the U.S. affiliate of Germany's Merck KgaA.