MGP Ingredients Appoints Matias Bentel as Chief Marketing Officer and Chris Wiseman as Senior Vice President, Operations

Seasoned leaders bring extensive brand-building and operational expertise to help drive MGP’s next phase of growth

ATCHISON, Kan.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--MGP Ingredients, Inc. (Nasdaq:MGPI), a leading provider of branded and distilled spirits and food ingredient solutions, announced the appointment of Matias Bentel as its chief marketing officer and Chris Wiseman as its senior vice president, operations. Both executives are reporting to Julie Francis, president and CEO, and are joining the company’s executive leadership team.

"We are excited to welcome Matias and Chris to MGP,” said Francis. “Matias brings decades of marketing experience in the alcohol beverage industry and a proven ability to build and grow brands. Chris has a strong track record of driving operational efficiency, building high-performing teams, and improving reliability that delivers consistent results. Their appointments reflect our continued focus on building a strong leadership team to support MGP’s strategic growth agenda and underscore our commitment to strengthening operational execution.”

Bentel brings extensive leadership, marketing, and general management experience, most recently serving as the executive vice president, chief brands officer at Brown-Forman Corporation. Prior to joining Brown-Forman, Bentel held various marketing roles at Diageo and Allied Domecq. He holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration and management from Argentine Catholic University (UCA) and has completed executive leadership programs at The University of Chicago Booth School of Business. In his new role, Bentel will oversee all marketing initiatives, including brand strategy, innovation, consumer engagement, and digital marketing.

With nearly 20 years of deep manufacturing experience and supply chain expertise, Wiseman brings cross-functional leadership skills, and a history of driving operational excellence, with a results-oriented mindset. Most recently, Wiseman served as the vice president of manufacturing at Schwan’s Company, where he held increasing roles of responsibility since 2017. Prior to that, he led multiple facilities for Bimbo Bakeries USA. Wiseman received a bachelor’s degree in bakery science and production management from Kansas State University. In his new role, he will oversee all aspects of operations across the organization.

About MGP Ingredients, Inc.

MGP Ingredients, Inc. (Nasdaq: MGPI) has been formulating excellence since 1941 by bringing product ideas to life across the alcoholic beverage and specialty ingredient industries through three segments: Branded Spirits, Distilling Solutions, and Ingredient Solutions. MGP is one of the leading spirits distillers with an award-winning portfolio of premium brands including Penelope, Rebel, Remus, and Yellowstone bourbons and El Mayor tequila, under the Luxco umbrella. With distilleries in Indiana and Kentucky, a tequila distillery joint venture in Arandas, Mexico, and bottling operations in Missouri, Ohio, and Northern Ireland, the company creates distilled spirits for customers including many world-renowned spirits brands. In addition, the company’s high-quality specialty fiber, protein, and starch ingredients provide functional, nutritional, and sensory solutions for a wide range of food products. To learn more, please visit MGPIngredients.com.

Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements

This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, including without limitation statements about the ability of MGP Ingredients, Inc. (the “Company” or “MGP”) to grow and strengthen execution. These forward-looking statements reflect management’s current beliefs and estimates of future economic circumstances, industry conditions, Company performance, Company financial results, and Company financial condition and are not guarantees of future performance.

All forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially. For further information on these risks and uncertainties and other factors that could affect the Company’s business, see the “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” sections of the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, as well as the Company’s other SEC filings. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statements or information in this press release, except as required by law.