Century Snacks names former Mondelez executive as CEO

Commerce, Calif.-based Century Snacks, which produces seasoned and roasted nuts and trail mixes for private brands and commercial products, announced Valerie Oswalt, the former president of North America confections for Mondelēz International, as its new CEO, a press release said.

At Mondelez, Oswalt headed a $1.5-billion collection of brands including Trident, Sour Patch Kids, Swedish Fish, Oreo Chocolate Candy and Halls. She previously held other senior positions across marketing, sales, finance and supply chain functions in her 21-year career at Mondelēz.

“Valerie is a dynamic leader with a unique background that spans marketing, sales, operations and finance.” said David Lowe, Century Snacks' chairman of the board.

For more than 33 years, Century Snacks has provided private brand roasted nuts and trail mixes to national and regional retailers.

“The opportunity in the nut and trail mix market is tremendous, and Century Snacks is poised to capitalize on it,” Oswalt said. “I am excited to work with the talented Century Snacks team leveraging our new, state-of-the-art U.S.-based manufacturing facility … expanding our private label retail relationships and leveraging our new packaging and innovation to accelerate growth.”