Frozen food industry executivesJeff Varcoe,The Schwan Food Company; andRon Pillsbury,McCain Foods USA, were elected as directors at theAmerican Frozen Food Institute(AFFI). Board members voted on the pair during AFFI's September meeting in Washington, D.C.

“We are very pleased to have someone of Dr. Varcoe’s caliber representing our company on the AFFI board of directors,” said Alan Poff, director of government and community affairs at Schwan. “His passion and expertise in the food safety and quality arena will serve the board well, as AFFI works to advance the interests of the frozen food industry in our nation’s capital.”

Varcoe was named vice president of food safety and quality for Schwan in 2007.  In this role, he leads the company’s quality, food safety, auditing and recall management systems and programs.

Varcoe earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from Southwest Minnesota State University, a Master of Science from Minnesota State University, and a Doctor of Philosophy in food science from the University of Minnesota.

Pillsbury is a longtime food industry veteran with more than 25 years experience in supply chain management. He has served as vice president of planning, distribution and customer service at McCain since 2007.  In his current role, Pillsbury oversees warehouse, transportation, supply and demand management, customer service, financial oversight and supply chain optimization initiatives. 

Pillsbury began his career with the Wm. Wrigley Jr. Company, eventually managing Wrigley’s largest manufacturing plant in Gainesville, Ga.  He has also completed a number of international supply chain management assignments in the United Kingdom and Australia.  He earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell College, and a master’s degree from the University of Chicago.

"McCain Foods has long supported the advocacy efforts of the American Frozen Food Institute on behalf of the industry," said Pillsbury.  "I am excited to join the board of directors and become an active participant in the organization."