AUSTIN, MINN. – In a move aimed at strengthening the role of Hormel Foods Corp. as a supplier of deli products, Jeffrey P. Baker has been promoted to the newly created position of group vice-president of deli. Mr. Baker most recently was group vice-president of food service for the Austin-based company.

 In his new role, Mr. Baker will report to Thomas R. Day, executive vice-president of Refrigerated Foods, and will oversee deli offerings spanning numerous Hormel divisions. Brands within Mr. Baker’s portfolio will include Columbus Craft Meats, the Jennie-O Turkey Store division, the Hormel and DiLusso deli brands and Hormel Gatherings party trays.

Hormel said it expects to offer retailers an increasingly wide array of deli offerings.

“The deli space is an on-trend and growing category for today’s retailer,” said James P. Snee, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Hormel Foods. “In addition to behind-the-glass and grab-and-go deli offerings, we have seen a shift toward more food service offerings with growth in prepared foods and in-store restaurants. Jeff brings extensive deli knowledge and a strong culture of delivering innovative solutions to our customers and operators from the Hormel food service division. Jeff will be working closely with Joe Ennen, currently president and chief executive officer, Columbus Craft Meats, and other Hormel Foods business leaders, to unite all of our deli offerings into one dynamic organization that will deliver growth for years to come.”

Mr. Baker has been with Hormel Foods since 1990, initially in sales positions. After taking product manager assignments for smoked meats and sausage, Mr. Baker in 2001 was named meat products district manager in Buffalo. The following year, he was promoted to senior product manager of meat products and became group product manager for meat products in 2005. Mr. Baker was promoted to director of fresh meats marketing and Precept Foods in 2009 and to vice-president of food service marketing in 2012. He became group vice-president of food service in 2015.

In addition to elevating Mr. Baker, Hormel announced promotions for Mark J. Ourada and David F. Weber.

Mr. Ourada, who has been with Hormel for 30 years, was promoted to vice-president of food service. He joined the company as a relief sales and merchandiser in Minneapolis and was promoted to sales representative and territory manager the same year. In the years that followed, he had sales and sales management assignments in Texas and Colorado before returning to Minneapolis in 1998 as a food service area manager. In 2001 he became food service regional sales manager in Cincinnati, and in 2013 he was promoted to vice-president of food service sales.

Mr. Weber has been promoted to vice-president of food service sales. Mr. Weber joined Hormel in 1992 and held numerous food service sales and product manager positions across the country. He was promoted to food service regional manager in Charlotte, N.C., in 2006 and to president of Burke Corp. in 2012. He became vice-president of food service marketing in 2015.

“Our food service team has delivered strong, industry-leading growth as they partner with operators to help differentiate their menus with innovative, great-tasting offerings,” Mr. Snee said. “Mark and David each bring a wealth of experience to this high-growth business and I look forward to continued success under their leadership.”