Snack Food Association Names Tom Dempsey CEO

WASHINGTONThe Snack Food Association has named Tom Dempsey, former president of UTZ Quality Foods, Inc., as its new chief executive officer effective July 1, 2013. Dempseys focus will be to help increase SFAs value to its members, while helping to develop a long-term strategy that will make the association increasingly successful into the next decade.

Jim McCarthy, SFAs president since 1999, will continue in his current position and focus on enhancing SFA's presence in federal, state and international arenas.

I am delighted to announce that Tom Dempsey will be joining SFA as CEO and am looking forward to his leadership as we seek to build our association for the future," said SFA Chairman William (Chip) Mann II, president & co-owner, Pretzels, Inc. We will be able to benefit from Toms energy and leadership in moving SFA forwardand from Jims experience and expertise in the critically important governmental affairs arena. I feel we have significantly increased the strength of SFAs leadership team."

Dempsey, a 24-year veteran of Utz and 2007 SFA chairman, plans to visit both business and associate member companies as part of an effort to solicit ideas and assist company executives in leveraging their SFA membership to benefit both the industry and their companies.

As a former industry executive, member of SFA and former chairman, I know how important this association is to the industry and to our individual companies," Dempsey said. Our goal is to build an even stronger SFA that maximizes value for all of our members."