ROUGEMONT, QC, Feb. 12, 2021 /CNW Telbec/ - Lassonde Industries
Inc. (TSX: LAS.A) ("Lassonde") announced today that Guy Blanchette, Executive Vice President and
Chief Financial Officer, has made the decision to leave his current
position on March 31, 2021, in order
to decrease his professional activities and to eventually take a
well-deserved retirement. Thus, from April
1, 2021, following a long-prepared transition plan,
Eric Gemme, currently Senior
Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of the Lassonde Pappas
and Company Inc. division, will become the Chief Financial Officer
of Lassonde Industries Inc.
The transfer of responsibility between Guy Blanchette and Eric
Gemme will take place in a gradual and orderly manner, as
Mr. Blanchette will continue his relationship with Lassonde by
becoming, on April 1, 2021, the
strategic advisor of Nathalie
Lassonde, Chief Executive Officer of Lassonde Industries
Inc. In this role, he will advise management in carrying out
specific strategic projects and will remain responsible for
Lassonde Industries Inc.'s investor relations.
"On behalf of the members of management and the Board of
directors of Lassonde Industries Inc., I would like to sincerely
thank Guy Blanchette for his 14
years of loyal service as Chief Financial Officer. Guy has been a
key player in the growth of our organization over the past decade.
I am very happy to be able to continue to benefit from his vast
experience and his precious and wise advice. I would also like to
congratulate Eric Gemme on his
appointment as Chief Financial Officer. He is the perfect choice to
fulfill this function. His expertise in financial management and
knowledge of the business and our industry on a North-American
scale will be important assets for our continued growth," concluded
Nathalie Lassonde.
Eric Gemme joined Lassonde in
August 2014. Since then, he has held
several strategic positions within the organization, including
Senior Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer of the Lassonde
Pappas and Company Inc. division, Chief Operating Officer of Apple
& Eve LLC, Senior Vice-President of Corporate Finance and
Senior Vice-President and Assistant to the President and Chief
Operating Officer of Lassonde Industries.
He began his career with Price Waterhouse in 1994. He then
respectively occupied various positions, including:
Vice-President, Finance and Treasurer at Cognicase, Inc.;
Vice-President, Finance and Corporate Controller at CAE Inc.;
Vice-President, Finance for the Avionics & Surveillance
division of Cobham PLC; Vice-President, Finance and Control at
Future Electronics, Inc., and Chief Financial Officer and Head of
Corporate Services of BBA, Inc.
Eric holds a bachelor's degree in business administration –
accounting science, from Université du Québec à Montréal. He also
holds an Executive Certificate in Technology, Operations and Value
Chain Management from the MIT –
Sloan School of Management. He
is a member of the Quebec CPA Order (CPA-CA), of the American
Institute of Certified Public Accountants (CPA – Illinois) and of the Canadian Institute of
Chartered Business Valuators (CBV).
About Lassonde
Lassonde Industries Inc. is a North American leader in the
development, manufacture and sale of ready-to-drink juices and
drinks marketed under brands such as Apple & Eve, Everfresh,
Fairlee, Fruité, Graves, Oasis, Old Orchard, Rougemont and Sun-Rype. Lassonde is the
largest producer of fruit and vegetable juices and drinks in
Canada and one of the two largest
producers of store brand shelf-stable fruit juices and drinks in
the United States. It is also a
major producer of cranberry sauces. The Company also produces
fruit-based snacks in the form of bars and bites.
Lassonde also develops, manufactures and markets specialty food
products under brands such as Antico and Canton. The Company also imports and markets
selected wines from various countries and manufactures apple ciders
and cider–based beverages.
The Company produces superior quality products through the
expertise of approximately 2,600 people working in 18 plants across
Canada and the United States. To learn more, visit
www.lassonde.com.
Caution Concerning Forward-Looking
Statements
In this document and in other documents filed with Canadian
regulatory authorities or in other communications, the Company may
from time to time make written or oral forward-looking statements
within the meaning of applicable securities
legislation. Forward-looking statements notably include
estimates, expectations, forecasts, and projections of future
investment spending, revenues, expenses, earnings, profit,
indebtedness, financial position, losses, upcoming projects,
business and management strategies, and business growth and
expansion. In the context of this document, forward-looking
statements are particularly used to discuss preliminary results,
the rate of sales growth, and profit attributable to shareholders.
The forward-looking statements contained herein are used to help
readers better understand Lassonde's financial position and the
results of its operations as at the dates presented and may not be
appropriate for other purposes. Forward-looking statements can be
recognized by such words as "may," "should," "believes,"
"predicts," "plans," "expects," "intends," "anticipates,"
"estimates," "projects," "objective," "continues," "proposes,"
"targets," or "aims" as well as words and expressions of a similar
nature and whether they are used in the affirmative or negative or
used in the conditional or future tense. Forward-looking statements
also include any statements that do not refer to historical
facts.
By their very nature, forward-looking statements are based on
assumptions and involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both
general and specific in nature. It is therefore possible that the
forecasts, projections and other statements will not be achieved or
will differ significantly from those expressed or implied in such
forward-looking statements or could affect the extent to which a
particular forecast, projection or other statement materializes.
Although Lassonde believes that the expectations reflected in these
forward-looking statements are reasonable, it can give no
assurances that these expectations will prove to be correct.
Readers are cautioned against placing undue reliance on
forward-looking statements when making decisions, as the actual
results could differ considerably from the opinions, plans,
objectives, expectations, forecasts, estimates and intentions
expressed in such forward-looking statements due to various
significant factors. Such factors include, among others, the
economic, industrial, competitive and regulatory environment in
which Lassonde operates or factors that are likely to have an
impact on its operations, its ability to attract and retain
customers, consumers, and qualified staff, the availability and
cost of raw materials and transportation, its operating costs, and
the price of its finished products in the various markets where it
operates.
The Company cautions that the foregoing list of factors is not
exhaustive. For additional information about the risks,
uncertainties, and assumptions that could cause Lassonde's
actual results to differ from its stated expectations, readers may
also consult the "Uncertainties and Principal Risk Factors" section
of the Company's most recent annual MD&A and the other
documents it files from time to time with securities regulators in
Canada and available on
www.sedar.com. The forward-looking statements contained in this
press release reflect the Company's expectations on this date and
are subject to change after this date. Lassonde does not undertake
to update publicly or to revise these forward-looking statements,
whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise,
unless required by applicable legislation or regulation.
SEDAR registration number: 00002099
SOURCE Lassonde Industries Inc.