People News

SANFORD, N.C. -- The Pantry Inc.’s Board of Directors appointed Robert F. Bernstock and Edwin J. Holman to serve as directors of the company. Their appointments bring the board's total membership to 10.

Bernstock, 54, is president and CEO of Scotts Miracle-Gro, a $2.3 billion company and a global marketer of lawn and garden care products.

Previously, Bernstock was senior vice president and general manager of The Dial Corporation. Earlier in his career, he was a senior executive with Campbell Soup Co. for 12 years; he then led the spin-off from Campbell of Vlasic Foods International, and was president, CEO and a director of Vlasic for three years. He also has held senior executive and marketing positions with two software companies and a satellite communications company over the course of his career.

Bernstock is a director of Verticalnet, SecureSheet and BioVid, as well as a director and member of the executive committee of the Columbus (OH) Chamber of Commerce. He graduated from Hamilton College in 1972 and received his M.B.A. degree from Harvard Business School in 1974.

Holman, 59, is chairman and CEO of Macy's Central, a $2.1 billion division of Federated Department Stores that operates 71 department stores in the midwestern and southern United States. Previously, he was chairman and CEO of Galyans Trading Company, a public company operating large-scale sporting goods and outdoor stores. Earlier in his career, Holman held senior executive positions with the Bloomingdales and Richs/Lazarus/Goldsmiths divisions of Federated Department Stores; Petrie Retail Inc., a specialty apparel retailer; Woodward & Lothrop; Carter
Hawley Hale Stores; and Neiman Marcus. He also was with Macy's Midwest division, in a variety of positions, for 10 years at the beginning of his career.

Holman received a B.S. in Business Administration in 1976 and an M.B.A. degree in 1980, both from Rockhurst University.

Peter J. Sodini, president and Ceo of The Pantry said, "We are pleased to welcome Bob and Ed to The Pantry's Board of Directors. They bring with them a wide range of experience in the retail and consumer products sectors, and both have served as senior executives and directors of other public companies. I am certain that they will provide valuable input as we continue to pursue our long-term growth strategies."

In supplier news, Bravo! Foods International Corp., a brand development and marketing company that manufactures, promotes and distributes vitamin- fortified, flavored milks, retained Jeffrey J. Kaplan as its new chief financial officer, effective immediately.

Former CFO Tommy E. Kee, an international accounting, consolidations and reporting specialist with expertise in strategic operations at Bravo!, will assume the new role of chief accounting officer.

Jeffrey Kaplan's career spans over 20 years as an entrepreneurial chief financial officer of public companies. In previous posts, Kaplan has been directly responsible for closing over $1.3 billion in transactions including underwritten public offerings, numerous PIPE transactions, strategic acquisitions, and bank financings. As executive VP and CFO at Rare Medium Group, Kaplan completed a $186 million underwritten public offering and more than $70 million in private placement funding.

Kaplan said, "I am excited to join Bravo!'s management team. Recent developments at the company, including its newly signed Master Distribution Agreement with Coca-Cola Enterprises, position Bravo! to enter a rapid growth phase and to become a major player in the single-serve, flavored milk industry over the long term. I look forward to substantially contributing as Bravo! moves into this next phase of its growth."

In other supplier news, David M. Brohel, CEO and president of Norseland Incorporated, importers and distributors of Jarlsberg and other Norwegian cheeses, will step down as president on Dec. 31, 2005. John J. Sullivan, who joined Norseland in 1992, will become CEO in September 2006.

Sullivan said, "It is an honor and a privilege to assume the presidency of this first rank company. I would hope to build on David Brohel’s many accomplishments as Norseland grows steadily in the 21st century."

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