Aiming to provide for a better world, Bolthouse Farms recently announced it will be focusing on increasing its Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitment. To do so, the brand announced it had established an ESG Hub, which will represent a sharpened focus on key issues and will facilitate heightened integration of ESG factors across all parts of the business. As this latest initiative positions the company for rapid growth, Bolthouse announced it has appointed Shelby Layne to be the new Director of the ESG Hub.
“Bolthouse Farms is committed to transforming our business so that we give more than we take, and I could not be more pleased to lead the charge,” added Layne. “Our newly energized ESG focus isn’t just about advancing select causes, it’s about being very deliberate about doing good for the land, our people, and our communities. It’s about ensuring that who we want to become as a company aligns with our actions.”
Layne brings a diverse background in marketing, finance, and social impact organizations. The company noted Layne is particularly passionate about environmental and sustainability platforms. She has served in various marketing and innovation roles throughout the three years she has been with the company.
Now, she will lead the ESG Hub team as an emerging, company-wide, cross-functional ESG Task Force incorporating critical input from all business units.
The company plans to include close coordination and alignment with the ESG goals of its customers and retail partners. To direct and drive this focus, Joey Antonelli also recently joined the ESG Hub team as Manager, ESG Customer Management.
Antonelli brings more than five years of Bolthouse Farms experience in sales and customer interface to the role, along with a passion for protecting and creating a better world for generations to come. He started out as a field sales representative in the Midwest before moving to Bentonville, Arkansas, about a year later to support the Walmart account.
Most recently, he served as the Sales Executive for the Walmart and Sam’s Club businesses. According to the release, a large part of this role was partnering with Walmart to monitor sustainability and support goals to reduce emissions to further Walmart’s forward-looking environmental targets. To further his goals to protect the earth, Antonelli was also recently selected to sit on the International Fresh Produce Association (IFPA) Sustainability Council as one of about 60 individuals who will help drive the industry to incorporate more sustainable practices into their businesses.
Sustainability and ESG commitments are quickly becoming a high priority for many companies. Now with these stewards in place, Bolthouse is geared to bring more sustainability practices to the forefront, meeting longer-term goals, success, and challenges head-on.
“As we look to the future and redefine the role Bolthouse Farms plays in our communities, ESG-related factors are critical considerations,” said Zak Karlen, General Manager, Bolthouse Farms. “By taking a more intentional approach to ESG, we will be better positioned to foster a sustainable relationship with our people and natural resources, while helping Bolthouse Farms grow into the most transparent and conscientious company we can be.”
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