Hormel Foods names Will Bonifant chief supply chain officer to overhaul global network

Hormel appoints supply chain chief amid network overhaul

Bonifant to lead end-to-end supply chain transformation

Hormel Foods is naming Will Bonifant as group vice president and chief supply chain officer, a move the Austin, Minn.-based food company says accelerates a push to modernize its global operations. The appointment, announced via PRNewswire on Feb. 12, is effective March 9, 2026, and charges Bonifant with overseeing procurement, manufacturing, planning, logistics, engineering and supply chain innovation across Hormel’s network.

Company executives describe the hire as a strategic step to scale complex operations and build modern capabilities across international markets. President John Ghingo says Bonifant is a “proven supply chain leader” whose experience running multi-plant manufacturing networks and leading end-to-end supply chains in Asia and other regions positions him to drive transformation as Hormel advances its long-term strategy. Hormel frames the move as central to strengthening resilience and supporting continued growth and product innovation across its branded foods portfolio.

Bonifant joins from The Hershey Company, where he spends more than 15 years leading supply chain strategy, manufacturing and engineering for a roughly 20-plant network and holding roles spanning the United States, Canada and international markets. His prior work includes leadership of Hershey’s China end-to-end supply chain and oversight across Asia, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Earlier roles at The Boston Consulting Group and eight years as a U.S. Navy officer, including power plant supervisory duties aboard the USS GEORGIA, round out a profile Hormel highlights as cross-functional and operationally focused.

Hormel positions the appointment as part of a broader effort to modernize its global network and to embed innovation into supply chain planning and execution. The company is emphasizing cross-functional experience in engineering and plant management to lift efficiency, reduce disruptions and align procurement and logistics with evolving consumer demand for branded food products.

Industry observers say the hire reflects a wider trend among major food manufacturers to invest in senior supply chain talent capable of integrating digital tools, reshoring or regionalizing capacity and managing increasingly complex global sourcing. For Hormel, the move signals a priority on operational resilience and scalable manufacturing as it competes in a market where supply-chain agility increasingly shapes product availability and costs.