Muenster Milling Appoints Jim Holdrieth as President and CEO

Muenster Milling Company, a leading manufacturer of freeze-dried and extruded pet food, has announced the appointment of Jim Holdrieth as its new President and CEO. Holdrieth brings over 30 years of experience in the food ingredient industry, with a strong track record of success in manufacturing and commercializing innovative products. Muenster Milling, a portfolio company of Kainos Capital, aims to leverage Holdrieth's expertise to further enhance its manufacturing capabilities and meet the growing consumer demand for high-quality pet food.

Holdrieth's most recent position was as the CEO of Florida Food Products (FFP), a company specializing in natural and clean label ingredients for the food, beverage, sports, and pet nutrition industries. During his tenure at FFP, Holdrieth played a pivotal role in expanding manufacturing operations and introducing new technologies to drive innovation. Prior to FFP, he led the North American Food Ingredients business of Balchem, which included its Sensory Effects division.

The appointment of Holdrieth as President and CEO of Muenster Milling has been met with enthusiasm from the company's owners, Mitch and Chad Felderhoff. They expressed confidence in Holdrieth's ability to uphold Muenster's commitment to excellence in pet food manufacturing, emphasizing food safety, innovation, and exceeding customer expectations.

Kainos Capital, the consumer-focused private equity firm behind Muenster Milling, also expressed its support for Holdrieth's leadership. Kevin Elliott, Partner at Kainos Capital, highlighted Holdrieth's previous experience in spearheading growth at Florida Food Products and deemed him the ideal leader to scale Muenster's manufacturing and new product development capabilities. Jeff Moredock, Principal at Kainos Capital, praised Holdrieth's customer-oriented approach and expertise in commercializing food manufacturing technologies, stating that it would be instrumental in meeting the increasing demand for freeze-dried pet food.

In response to his appointment, Holdrieth expressed excitement about joining the Muenster family and acknowledged the company's growth potential in the pet food market. He emphasized the value of Muenster's new freeze-dried manufacturing facility, which offers a comprehensive range of packaging solutions for customers. Holdrieth's background in food ingredient manufacturing gives him a deep appreciation for the strategic role freeze-dried proteins can play in meeting consumers' desire for nutritionally beneficial pet meals and treats. He is committed to continuing Muenster's 92-year legacy while positioning the company as a market leader in the freeze-dried category.

Muenster Milling Company, founded in 1932, specializes in producing freeze-dried and extruded pet food and inclusions. The company offers contract manufacturing and private label solutions for prominent brands and retailers, in addition to selling its products under the *Muenster* brand, available in pet specialty stores and e-commerce channels. Muenster also provides customized kibble formulations based on customer preferences.

Kainos Capital, the private equity firm backing Muenster Milling, focuses on middle-market investments in the food, pet, consumer products, and services sectors. With extensive investment and operating experience in the industry, Kainos Capital aims to create a diverse portfolio of growing and strategically relevant food and consumer businesses.

For more information about Muenster Milling, please visit [www.muenstermilling.com](https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.muenstermilling.com&esheet=53835435&newsitemid=20231115657141&lan=en-US&anchor=www.muenstermilling.com&index=1&md5=75a84139a1ed3f68cea2f112d798866a).

To learn more about Kainos Capital, please visit [www.kainoscapital.com](https://cts.businesswire.com/ct/CT?id=smartlink&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.kainoscapital.com&esheet=53835435&newsitemid=20231115657141&lan=en-US&anchor=www.kainoscapital.com&index=2&md5=2db3afad8c1b1baa5560b8237d0b0d62).