Lancaster Colony Announces Changes to Board of Directors

WESTERVILLE, Ohio--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Lancaster Colony Corporation (Nasdaq: LANC) announced today that its Board of Directors has appointed Alan F. Harris as Chairman of the Board of Directors effective January 1, 2024. Mr. Harris will succeed Chairman John B. Gerlach, Jr., who will remain a member of the Company’s Board of Directors.

Mr. Harris has served as a director on the Lancaster Colony Board since 2008 and was appointed Lead Independent Director in 2018. He is currently a member of the Audit, Nominating and Governance, and Executive Committees. With more than two decades of experience at the Kellogg Company in a variety of positions including Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing and Customer Officer, Mr. Harris has extensive domestic and international experience in the food industry, as well as considerable consumer marketing expertise.

“I am honored to succeed Jay as Chairman and thrilled to continue working with him, the management team, and the rest of the Board of Directors at Lancaster Colony to drive The Better Food Company growth strategy,” Mr. Harris said.

Mr. Gerlach was appointed to the Board of Directors in 1985 and is the Corporation’s longest-serving director. He was appointed Chief Executive Officer in 1997 and has served as Chairman since stepping down as CEO in 2017.

“Alan has served Lancaster Colony and its shareholders with distinction for the last 15 years, and I am pleased that he will succeed me as Chairman,” said Mr. Gerlach. “I look forward to continuing to engage with the management team and the Board, both as a director and a significant shareholder of the company, to steward our growth plans.”

President and Chief Executive Officer David A. Ciesinski commented, “I would like to sincerely thank Jay for his leadership and his many years of dedication to Lancaster Colony, as both an executive and as Chair of our Board. I would also like to congratulate Alan on his new appointment. Both Jay and Alan bring extensive leadership experience and strategic oversight to our Board of Directors, which will continue to benefit our Company and its shareholders.”

About the Company

Lancaster Colony Corporation is a manufacturer and marketer of specialty food products for the retail and foodservice channels.

Forward-Looking Statements

We desire to take advantage of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 (the “PSLRA”). This news release contains various “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the PSLRA and other applicable securities laws. Such statements can be identified by the use of the forward-looking words “anticipate,” “estimate,” “project,” “believe,” “intend,” “plan,” “expect,” “hope” or similar words. These statements discuss future expectations; contain projections regarding future developments, operations or financial conditions; or state other forward-looking information. Such statements are based upon assumptions and assessments made by us in light of our experience and perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments; and other factors we believe to be appropriate. These forward-looking statements involve numerous risks and uncertainties, including, without limitation, the various risks inherent in the Company’s business as set forth in periodic reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q.

Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they are made, and we undertake no obligation to update such forward-looking statements, except as required by law. Management believes these forward-looking statements to be reasonable; however, you should not place undue reliance on such statements that are based on current expectations.