• Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc. has appointed Kevin Zidron as Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer and Brad Hartzell as Chief Supply Chain Officer.
• Zidron will lead enterprise strategy, transformation, value capture, project management, commercial strategy and insights as Ocean Spray advances its growth priorities.
• Hartzell will oversee Ocean Spray’s supply chain and operational capabilities, succeeding Earl Larson, who will retire at the end of September after nearly 22 years with the cooperative.

LAKEVILLE, Mass., Sept. 21, 2026 /PRNewswire/ — Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc., the agricultural cooperative owned by roughly 700 family farmers, today announced the appointments of Kevin Zidron as Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer and Brad Hartzell as Chief Supply Chain Officer.

The appointments come as Ocean Spray enters its annual cranberry harvest season and President and CEO Abigail Buckwalter advances key priorities following her first several months leading the cooperative. Together, Zidron and Hartzell will strengthen Ocean Spray’s strategy, transformation, supply chain and operational capabilities as the cooperative enters its next phase of growth.

“At Ocean Spray, we have an iconic brand, an extraordinary fruit, a strong cooperative foundation and talented people across our business,” said Abigail Buckwalter, President and CEO of Ocean Spray. “Our focus now is on bringing those strengths together with greater clarity, pace and discipline to accelerate growth and unlock our full potential. We have an opportunity to build on what makes Ocean Spray unique while creating the capabilities needed for our next chapter. Kevin and Brad bring the leadership and expertise to help us move faster, sharpen execution and deliver on our priorities.”

Kevin Zidron to Lead Enterprise Strategy and Transformation
Zidron joins Ocean Spray as Chief Strategy & Transformation Officer, reflecting the cooperative’s commitment to strengthening how insights, strategy and execution work together to drive growth.

In the role, Zidron will lead enterprise strategy, transformation, value capture, project management, commercial strategy and insights, helping accelerate key business priorities and support the cooperative’s long-term ambitions.

Prior to joining Ocean Spray, Zidron held leadership roles at Nestlé Health Science, Vital Proteins and Kraft Heinz, where he led enterprise strategy, commercial transformation, business optimization and growth initiatives across North American and global businesses.

Brad Hartzell to Build on Ocean Spray’s Supply Chain and Manufacturing Foundation
Hartzell joins Ocean Spray as Chief Supply Chain Officer, succeeding Earl Larson, who will retire at the end of September after nearly 22 years with the cooperative.

Hartzell brings more than 25 years of experience leading manufacturing, supply chain and operational excellence across global consumer products and ingredient businesses. Throughout his career, he has built high-performing teams, strengthened operational capabilities and delivered sustainable business results.

Most recently, Hartzell served as Chief Operating Officer, Beauty & Body Solutions at KDC/ONE Development Corporation, Inc. and previously as Chief Operating Officer at NovaTaste. He also spent 18 years with International Flavors & Fragrances, advancing through a series of leadership roles that culminated in Vice President, Operations, Flavors North America. Hartzell began his leadership career in the U.S. Navy and holds an Executive MBA from INSEAD.

Together, these appointments reflect Ocean Spray’s continued investment in the leadership, capabilities and organizational alignment needed to accelerate execution, support long-term growth and create enduring value for its farmer-owners.

About Ocean Spray
In 1930, Ocean Spray was founded by three maverick farmers – bonded by bold cranberry love. Since then, we’ve grown into a vibrant global agricultural cooperative, built on the strength of roughly 700 family farmers in the United States, Canada, and Chile. Together, we’ve worked to preserve the family farming way of life for nearly 100 years, and for generations to come. Today, our cranberries show up in more than a thousand deliciously nourishing products in over 100 countries worldwide. United by passion and purpose, Ocean Spray is committed to trailblazing the power of the mighty cranberry through its offbeat taste and uncanny nutrition to feed better, happier lives for all. Born Tart. Raised Bold™. 

Media Contact:
Megan Tucker
comms@oceanspray.com

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SOURCE Ocean Spray Cranberries, Inc.