CINCINNATI – AdvancePierre Foods has named Steve Booker president of retail for the company. 

Steve Booker, AdvancePierre's new president-retail

Booker will be responsible for growing AdvancePierre’s private-label business, which accounts for one-fourth of the company’s retail portfolio. Retail is the company’s second-largest business unit which collaborates with club, mass merchandise and grocery chains to provide branded, private-label and licensed products.

“Co-creating high-quality, signature products for our customers is a meaningful part of our business and a tremendous growth opportunity,” John Simons, president and CEO. “Private label brands are attaining elevated status and competing head-to-head with national brands. Steve’s brand intelligence and acute awareness of category and channel strategy will be a great asset for our customers.”

Booker’s career started at Procter & Gamble and The Clorox Company. He later transitioned to the food industry working at ConAgra Foods where he spent the last 13 years. Most recently, he served as the senior vice president of customer development, where he was responsible for a 200-member team that developed customer-facing capabilities to drive growth across ConAgra’s branded and private-label business.

In October, ConAgra announced plans to lay off 1,500 office-based employees and around the world and move its headquarters to Chicago from Omaha, Neb.