ONTARIO, Canada--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Frontenac announced today that its portfolio company, Crofter’s Organic, the largest producer of organic jam, preserves, and spreads in North America, has appointed Tim Jax as CEO effective January 2, 2024. Jax succeeds company founder Gerhard Latka, who retired in July.
Jax has nearly two decades of experience as a leader in the food sector. Most recently he served as Vice President Marketing & Innovation at Pretzels, Inc a manufacturer of branded and private label pretzels. During his tenure, Jax led an innovation-centric transformation, launching a variety of new products and revamping the Harvest Road brand, ultimately leading to a successful sale to the Hershey Company. Previously, Jax held several roles in brand management at ConAgra Brands and general management at Treehouse Foods.
After three decades as President of Crofters, Gerhard Latka stepped down from his position to devote more time to his personal passions. Under Latka’s leadership the organization grew from a single kettle operation to a highly automated and streamlined, multi-line facility with products sold at major retailers across the US and Canada. Latka’s sons Dan and Sebastian remain at the organization in leadership positions.
Dan Latka, Vice President of Sales and Crofter’s Organic board member, said: "Looking back at the last 35 years, I could not be prouder of what we’ve been able to build as a family. There was no one more critical to that than our father Gerhard. His vision to enter the world of organic food over a decade before standards even existed is a true testament to his belief in, and commitment to, the organic food movement. Sebastian and I are fortunate to be able to carry forward his legacy and partner with Tim to create the next exciting chapter for the Crofters organization.”
“We are very excited to have Tim join Crofter’s Organic as CEO. We expect his brand and innovation experience as well as overall leadership will be invaluable as the organization works to build scale and capitalize on a variety of growth opportunities,” said Betsy Williamson, Managing Director at Frontenac.
Crofter’s Organic chairman Chris Wilkins added “We are thrilled to have Tim join the team. His depth of experience in Fortune 500 companies, with the demonstrated ability to grow mid-market organizations is the ideal mix of skills as we work to further accelerate growth at Crofter’s Organic.
“Stepping into a company with such a rich history and legacy is humbling. I feel privileged to be in this position to continue the legacy that the Latka family has built over decades of hard work. The employees at Crofter's are world-class, and I look forward to working alongside them as we further our shared goal of helping the business continue to reach new heights,” Jax said. He added “Crofter’s products are made with sustainability in mind and accessible to consumers across North America.”
About Crofter’s Organic
Crofter’s Organic is the largest producer of organic fruit spreads, jams and preserves in North America. Founded in 1989 by Gerhard and Gabi Latka, the Company produces a wide variety of products for its namesake brand, as well as private label and contract customers. The Company is based in Ontario, Canada and operates out of a highly automated and streamlined production facility, sustainability-focused production facility. For more information, please visit www.croftersorganic.com.
About Frontenac
Frontenac is a Chicago-based private equity firm. The firm focuses on investing in lower middle market buyout transactions in the consumer, industrial, and services industries. Frontenac works in partnership with established operating leaders, through an executive-centric approach called CEO1ST™, which seeks to identify, acquire, and build market-leading companies through transformational acquisitions and operational excellence. Over the last 50+ years, Frontenac has built a franchise working with over 300 owners of mid-sized businesses as they address complex transition issues of liquidity, management enhancement, and growth planning. For more information, please visit www.frontenac.com.
