Califia Farms, a leading plant-based food and beverage company, announced that Dave Ritterbush has been named chief executive officer (CEO). Greg Steltenpohl, plant-based pioneer and the company's founder will retire as CEO and remain on the board as an executive director.
Ritterbush, a CPG industry veteran, has a proven record of accomplishment of successfully leading food and beverage brands and elevating them to new heights, most recently as president and CEO of Quest Nutrition, the company says. He guided the company to a $1 billion acquisition last year by The Simply Good Foods Co. He has also served as CEO of the better-for-you snack company popchips, and helmed Premier Nutrition Corp., maker of Premier Protein and Power Bar. Additionally, Ritterbush served as a vice president and general manager of Red Bull North America and had a long tenure at Dreyer's Grand Ice Cream.