Vanguard Food appoints produce industry veteran Dwight Ferguson to Board of Managers

Vanguard Food, a newly formed holding company anchored by Village Fresh Greenhouse Grown and backed by Sweat Equities and Kennedy Lewis Investment Management, in November announced the appointment of Dwight Ferguson to its Board of Managers.

Ferguson brings more than three decades of senior leadership experience across the global fresh produce and perishable goods industries.

Ferguson has held multiple CEO roles at perishable product companies, including Naturipe Farms, Eurofresh and Florimex International, BV. He began his career in sales management roles at Procter & Gamble and Pepsi-Cola and entered the produce industry as division vice president for Chiquita Brands International. Most recently, Ferguson served as president and CEO of the California Agricultural Leadership Foundation, where he oversaw leadership development programs.

Ferguson was also chair of the Produce Marketing Association from 2020 to 2021 and is immediate past chair of the Foundation for Fresh Produce. He holds a master's degree from Aquinas College in Michigan and a bachelor's degree from Ohio University.

“I’m excited by the vision that Charlie and Vanguard’s stakeholders share in creating a premier branded CPG foods company supporting healthy lifestyles and sustainable farming practices,” Ferguson said. “Their timing could not be better for capitalizing on shifting consumer behavior that demands healthier alternatives to processed foods. I see tremendous opportunity for Vanguard to deliver value for all of its stakeholders as it expands its platform via growth strategies including product development and innovation.”

“Dwight is a proven leader with a deep understanding of what it takes to scale high-performing perishable goods businesses,” said Charlie Sweat, founder and chairman of Sweat Equities and chair of Vanguard’s Board of Managers. “His track record, industry relationships and strategic vision make him an exceptional addition to our board as we accelerate Vanguard’s growth trajectory through disciplined execution and innovation.”