Mitch Arends joined Utz as Executive Vice President, Chief Integrated Supply Chain Officer in November 2023. Mitch is responsible for all aspects of end-to-end supply chain, including procurement, manufacturing, transportation, warehousing, planning, quality, and research & development.
Prior to joining Utz, Mr. Arends served as Chief Supply Chain Officer of North America Operations at Kraft Heinz, an American multinational food company. During Mr. Arends’ 13 years at Kraft Heinz, prior to his role as Chief Supply Chain Officer of North America, Mr. Arends led North America Operations & Manufacturing since 2018, as well as several business unit operations roles, and positions in procurement and plant management. Prior to his time at Kraft, Mr. Arends served six years at Nestle & Gerber, a Swiss multinational food and drink processing conglomerate corporation, from 2004 to 2010. Prior to his roles at Nestle, Mr. Arends served five years in several supply chain roles at Deere & Company, an American manufacturing corporation. Mr. Arends started his career in 1996 with Quality Farm and Fleet in supply chain and merchandising.
Mr. Arends holds a B.A. in Supply Chain Management / Operations Management from Michigan State University, as well as an M.B.A. from Arizona State University with an emphasis in Supply Chain Management.