About Us
Maker's Pride partners with leading brands to deliver quality, safety, and innovation in food manufacturing and packaging.
What Drives Us
At Maker’s Pride, we specialize in contract food manufacturing and packaging, helping household brands bring their products to life. With a commitment to innovation, operational excellence, and our core values, we make a lasting impact on the industry and the communities we serve. Together, we’re reshaping the future of food production and packaging while ensuring the highest quality and safety standards.
Committed to Excellence in Every Bite
From protecting our people to supporting communities, our priorities ensure every step we take leads to meaningful impact and exceptional results.
Keeping Our People Safe
We prioritize the health and safety of our workforce with industry-leading practices.
Prioritizing Partnerships
Building strong, long-lasting relationships with our customers to fuel mutual success.
Elevating Customer Performance
Delivering innovative solutions that maximize efficiency and quality.
Contributing to Local Communities
Supporting local economies and creating meaningful change through our initiatives.
Nourishing North America’s Families
Producing quality food products that feed families across our communities.
What Our Customers and Team Say
“I would like to thank the entire team for a smooth commissioning. You are great partners and as R&D, we look forward to working with this phenomenal team again in the future.”
R&D Sr. Engineer, Fortune 500 Company
“I don’t know of any other company that has the focus on the people that we do. ”
Anonymous Employee
“[Maker’s Pride] had the baking experience, technical know-how, and pilot plant facilities needed to bring the brownies to full-scale production. By collaborating with an open innovation partner, the Snacks division estimates it saved nine to 12 months in terms of taking the product from concept to launch.”
Fortune 500 CPG leader
“I like my job a lot because I learn different things every day – how to fix machines and how to troubleshoot. They give you the opportunity and it’s up to you to take it.”
Anonymous Employee
“The R&D team’s understanding of the production equipment capabilities, their dedication to drive the process from beginning to end, their technical development capabilities, and ability to translate the customer requirements into great products that hit the mark are impressive. They took a very personal interest in our products and it shows through in the results.”
Former Fortune 500 CPG leader in external supply chain innovation
An Extensive Network of Excellence
With more than 25 facilities, Maker’s Pride’s network ensures flexibility, speed, and expertise. Each facility is purpose-built for specialized production to meet unique customer needs.
Meet Our Leadership Team
Darlene Nicosia
Chief Executive Officer
Darlene brings 30+ years of expertise in driving growth and transformation within the consumer products sector. Before joining Maker’s Pride, she held significant leadership positions at The Coca-Cola Company, including President of the Canada & Northeast US Zone, Chief Procurement Officer, and Vice President of Commercial Products Supply. She also held key operations leadership roles at PepsiCo and Kraft Foods.
Darlene serves on the board of Foot Locker, Inc. and is a member of the Georgia Institute of Technology Advisory Board. She holds a B.S. in Marketing from The Ohio State University and an M.S. in Management from Georgia Tech.
Roger Harris
Chief Legal Officer
With more than 27 years of experience as a trial attorney, Roger leads the company’s legal, risk, government relations and external communications functions at Maker’s Pride. His expertise spans commercial litigation, product liability, and regulatory compliance, along with experience engaging government and administrative agencies.
Roger holds an MBA in Finance and International Business from the University of South Carolina and a law degree from Suffolk University in Boston.
Nick Hewitt
Chief Financial Officer
With over 25 years of global experience across multiple industries, Nick is a proven leader in financial management, M&A, integration, and transformation. Before joining Maker’s Pride, he served as EVP and CFO of Instant Brands, where he led a major turnaround and restructuring.
Nick holds a B.S. in Psychology from Queen’s University Belfast, a Professional Diploma in Accounting from Dublin City University, and is a Fellow of Chartered Accountants Ireland (FCA).
Brett Van de Bovenkamp
Chief Commercial Officer
With over 30 years of experience driving market-leading results at Unilever, Hillshire Brands, and Tyson Foods, Brett brings deep expertise in post-merger integration and strategic growth. Before joining Maker’s Pride, he served as President of Tyson’s European Business, where he led key initiatives to drive expansion and profitability.
Leveraging his diverse leadership background and analytical approach, Brett focuses on driving the company’s growth, building and sustaining customer partnerships, providing industry and consumer insights and driving overall business performance. He holds a B.A. in Economics and Communication from Rutgers University.
Lena Koldras
Chief Human Resources Officer
Lena brings over 31 years of human resources experience across leading companies such as Tyson Foods, Hillshire Brands, Sara Lee Corporation, and Consolidated Foods. With deep expertise in large scale transformation, labor strategy, employee engagement, and organizational development, she is a strategic leader dedicated to driving change across the company and advancing its operational effectiveness. Lena holds a B.S. in Business, Human Resources from St. Xavier University.
Dan Coats
Chief Strategy Officer
A seasoned leader with deep financial expertise and a strong background in the food industry, Dan brings over 30 years of experience to Maker’s Pride. With 24 years in the Coca-Cola System across multiple global roles, he has a proven track record of driving strategic growth and operational excellence.
As Chief Strategy Officer, Dan leads initiatives to position Maker’s Pride to be the most trusted and indispensable partner to its customers.
Bobbi Jo Raffetto
Chief Operating Officer
Bobbi Jo is responsible for shaping and executing the company’s operational strategy, with a focus on driving transformational growth and optimizing performance across all business functions. With 28 years of experience in the Food & Beverage industry, she has developed deep expertise in operational efficiency, scaling businesses, and leading high-performing teams. Before her current role, Bobbi Jo served as Senior Vice President of Operations at Kerry North America, where she successfully managed large-scale operations and led initiatives that improved both productivity and profitability. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Food Science and Technology from the University of Wisconsin, River Falls.
Our Story
Since our founding, Maker’s Pride has grown to become the largest contract manufacturer in North America, partnering with leading brands to shape the future of food.
1942-2000
- Peacock Foods founded in 1942, pioneering food processing.
- Expanded into refrigerated and frozen foods, packaging, and assembly.
2009-2015
- Four plants in Grand Rapids, MI are purchased to create the predecessor to Maker’s Pride.
- Consolidated Biscuit and Golden Temple (2010) acquired, expanding bakery and snack capabilities.
- Grew to 23 facilities across the U.S. and Europe by 2015.
2016-2018
- Peacock Foods acquired by Greencore USA (2016).
- Combined Greencore US/ Peacock business acquired (2018), bringing deep expertise in refrigerated, frozen, and packaging.
2021-Present
- Acquired Interbake (2021), strengthening baked goods production.
- Focused portfolio on snacking and convenience foods in North America, with the sale of several Fresh plants, along with Cones facilities, and a European bars operation.
2025
Launch of Maker’s Pride with a revitalized portfolio as North America’s leading contract food manufacturer.
Sustainability in Action
From reducing waste in our facilities to sourcing responsibly and improving energy efficiency, we’re committed to sustainability at every step. These efforts not only minimize our environmental footprint but also ensure we deliver exceptional products responsibly.
Join a Team That Values Your Potential
Be part of a company where every role matters. At Maker’s Pride, you can grow professionally, make an impact, and thrive in a people-first culture that values safety, opportunity, and innovation.
- Career Growth Opportunities
- Comprehensive Training Programs
- Competitive Benefits Packages