Flowers Foods Transitions Manufacturing Leadership

THOMASVILLE, GA -- Flowers Foods Inc. said Michael A. Beaty, executive vice-president of supply chain, will retire in the spring. Succeeding him will be Robert L. Benton Jr., senior vice-president of manufacturing and operations support, who has been promoted to senior vice-president and chief manufacturing officer.

Until his retirement, Beaty will oversee special projects for the company.

Beaty began his career at Flowers in 1968, and worked at several of its bakeries before joining the manufacturing team at corporate headquarters in Thomasville, GA. He was named senior vice-president of bakery operations in 1994, senior vice-president of supply chain in 2002 and executive vice-president of supply chain in 2008.

Benton joined Flowers in 1980 and has held a number of local, regional and corporate manufacturing roles for the company. In 2011, he was promoted to senior vice-president of manufacturing and operations support.