MGP Taps Accomplished Food Industry Executive Michael Buttshaw to Lead Ingredients Business

ATCHISON, Kan., Dec. 2, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- MGP (Nasdaq:MGPI), a leading supplier of specialty wheat proteins and starches, today announced the appointment of Michael Buttshaw to the position of vice president of ingredients sales and marketing effective immediately.

"We are excited to have Michael assume this important leadership role in our ingredient solutions business," said MGP President and CEO Gus Griffin. "His extensive background in sales and marketing management, strategic planning and business development will be valuable in taking this area of our company to the next level."

Buttshaw comes to MGP with nearly 30 years of food industry experience, including 23 years with Hormel Foods Corporation, Austin, Minn. He possesses expertise in building profitable and sustainable sales and marketing platforms, along with strong technical knowledge in cereal grain science.

"MGP is like 'coming home' for me," Buttshaw said. "The company's strong customer centric approach is a perfect fit as we move the business forward in the years ahead. I am excited about working closely with the existing team at MGP to build upon the strong platform already in place today."     

Buttshaw added, "I believe MGP is well positioned to capitalize on the growing consumer trends around higher protein levels in foods and beverages. The company's specialty starches provide excellent functional attributes in numerous food applications across the food industry."

Buttshaw most recently spent four years as vice president of sales for the ingredient group at Southeastern Mills, Inc., a savory food and flour-based coating supplier to the food industry headquartered in Rome, Ga. While leading the ingredient division, he designed and implemented a value-added sales and marketing platform. This resulted in a track record of profitable new product development and activations across the food segment. He was also responsible for the successful cultivation and establishment of key relationships with numerous multi-national branded companies across the food industry.

Prior to that, Buttshaw was vice president of sales and marketing for Penford Food Ingredients, a specialty starch producer headquartered in Centennial, Colo. This followed two years as vice president of sales and business development—specialty enzymes for DSM Food Specialties, Parsippany, N.J. In this capacity, he led the sales and marketing development efforts for all specialty enzymes for use in flour-based baking applications, as well as sweet and savory snack food applications.

From 1985 to 2008, Buttshaw was employed with Hormel. He began there as a process engineer in quality assurance and later served in a series of technical and management positions at various locations in the U.S. In 1999, he was promoted to national sales and marketing manager for Hormel's specialty products division.

Buttshaw is an active member of key industry and professional organizations, including the Institute of Food Technologists and Research Chef's Association. He has been a presenter for various industry events, including the Prepared Foods' Research and Development Summit and the Dairy Innovation Summit.

He received a bachelor of arts degree in education with an emphasis in mathematics from Gustavas Adolphus College, St. Peter, Minn., in 1985, and a MMI in management and marketing from the University of Minnesota's Carlson School of Management, Minneapolis, in 2002. He also completed executive training at Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management in Chicago.

About MGP Ingredients, Inc.

MGP processes grain-based starches and proteins into nutritional and highly functional ingredients for the branded consumer packaged goods industry. The company is also a leading independent supplier of premium spirits, offering flavor innovations and custom distillery blends to the beverage alcohol industry, as well as high quality food grade industrial alcohol for a wide range of product applications. The Company is headquartered in Atchison, Kansas, where it also has facilities for the production of distilled spirits and food ingredients. Distilled spirits are additionally produced at the Company's facility in Lawrenceburg, Indiana. For more information, visit mgpingredients.com.

A photo accompanying the release is available at https://www.globenewswire.com/newsroom/prs/?pkgid=29401

The photo is also available via AP PhotoExpress.

CONTACT: Shanae Randolph, 913.367.1480
         shanae.randolph@mgpingredients.com
         or
         Steve Pickman, 913.367.1480
         steve.pickman@mgpingredients.com

Released December 2, 2014