RANCHO CORDOVA, CA - ‘Tis the season for new leadership! Next to update its executive team is Renaissance Food Group (RFG), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Calavo Growers, Inc. Filling two newly-created roles, the company announced that Raina Nelson has been promoted to Executive Vice President (EVP) of Business Development, and Mark Lodge, formerly with Revolution Foods, joins RFG as the new EVP of Operations.

In her role, Nelson will oversee the company’s sales function, product development, quality and food safety, business development, customer service, marketing, and communications. As EVP of Operations, Lodge will oversee operations, product management, procurement, and costing for RFG’s nationwide operations. Both Nelson and Lodge will report directly to Jim Gibson.

“Raina has been a valuable member of our management team for many years.” said Jim Gibson, President. “She has a keen understanding of our customers’ needs; and I’m confident she will help take RFG into its next growth phase.”

Nelson has held multiple positions at RFG, most recently serving as Senior Vice President of Supply Chain Management where she oversaw all aspects of the company’s large and varied fresh ingredient supply chain. Prior to that, she served as the Vice President of Sales. She serves on the boards of the Southeast Produce Council and United Fresh Produce Association. Additionally, she holds a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Human Nutrition and a Master’s of Science in Food Microbiology from the University of Florida, where she remains involved in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences.

“Mark is known for his leadership, team building, and experience with fast-paced, complex supply chains,” said Gibson. “He has extensive knowledge in the food manufacturing arena and will be a great addition to our management team.”

According to a press release, Lodge has over 25 years of experience successfully leading large scale manufacturing and logistics operations, attaining success in complex and challenging business environments. Most recently, Lodge served as the Executive Vice President of Operations, Innovation and Customer Experience at Revolution Foods. He has extensive experience in bringing value-added, fresh, and convenient food solutions to various market channels in the U.S. and UK. He is accustomed to a fast-paced food manufacturing environment and has a proven track record for developing business opportunities from concept to delivery.

“Having Raina and Mark in place to oversee the daily details will allow me to more fully engage in strategic planning,” concluded Gibson. “Our governance structure is simply evolving to reflect the sophisticated, dynamic company we’ve become. For our customers, this means RFG will continue to be a reliable, agile, and innovative supply chain partner.”

Hats off to Raina Nelson and Mark Lodge on scoring these top-notch executive roles!

Renaissance Food Group