Sally Grimes, the former group president of the Tyson Foods Prepared Foods segment, has been named the chief executive officer of Clif Bar & Company.
Her appointment was effective June 1.
Clif Bar, which produces a wide offering of organic, plant-based energy foods under the Clif, Clif Kid, and LUNA brands. The company was formed nearly 30 years ago when company co-founder Gary Erickson completed a 175-mile bike ride and wanted to make a better energy bar with nutritious, high-quality ingredients.
Grimes will succeed Co-CEOs Erickson and Kit Crawford, who also are co-owners of Clif Bar & Company, based in Emeryville, California. Erickson and Crawford will remain on the company’s board of directors.
“I am honored to join this extraordinary company at a time when people are looking to brands to lead by example, something Clif Bar has been doing for nearly 30 years,” Grimes said in a press release. “Clif is in a unique position to not only innovate, but also drive meaningful change in our food system. Their focus on the long game is inspiring and offers endless potential. I can’t wait to get started.”
Erickson said Grimes’ professional experience is a great fit for the company he started as it continues to grow.
“Growth has a broader meaning at Clif Bar. To us, it’s an opportunity to take care of people, be of service to our communities and help build a more equitable and sustainable food system,” said Erickson. “Sally’s passion for what makes Clif unique will benefit our company culture and her track record for innovative thinking will help take us to the next level. We are thrilled to have Sally leading us forward.”
Grimes, who came to Tyson Foods with its 2014 acquisition of Hillshire Brands, announced her intent to resign from Tyson in February 2019.
While she was with Hillshire, she served as the chief innovation officer and president of Hillshire’s Gourmet Food Group. When the acquisition was completed, she was chosen to lead Tyson’s innovation sales and global brand strategy teams, later being named Tyson Foods’ president of North American Retail, before serving for about a year and a half as the leader of the Tyson Prepared Foods segment.
Prior to her work with Tyson Foods, Grimes held senior leadership roles with Kraft Foods and Newell Rubbermaid.
