Hometown Food Co., formed in June 2018 to acquire a portfolio of brands from J.M. Smucker Co., announced today (Jan. 28) Tom Polke was hired as president/CEO.

Polke comes to Hometown Food with more than 16 years of leadership experience from Ferrara Candy Co., wher he had been president since 2012 and most recently was chief integration officer.

And Ferrara has been doing a lot of integrating lately: It merged with Farley’s & Sathers candy company in 2012 and was acquired by Ferrero Group in late 2017.

Hometown Food Company, based in suburban Chicago, is owned by Brynwood Partners. In addition to the Smucker baking brands (Pillsbury shelf-stable baking products, Hungry Jack, White Lily and Jim Dandy), it acquired the Arrowhead Mills and Sunspire brands from Hain Celestial Group.