The Meat Institute’s Executive Board elected Peter Bozzo, executive vice president of Michael’s Finer Meats and Seafoods, to serve as chairman of the board of directors, replacing former Board Chairman Jim Snee, who is retiring as CEO and president of Hormel Foods.

“We are fortunate to have benefited from the wisdom and leadership of Jim Snee and we are excited to welcome the next Chairman, Peter Bozzo into this important role in guiding the Meat Institute and its members through a period of great change, challenge and innovation,” said Julie Anna Potts, president and CEO of the Meat Institute. “Peter brings a different perspective with lots of experience in the industry and in leadership at the Meat Institute.”

“I am honored to serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors at the Meat Institute,” said Bozzo. “I love the collaboration we are harnessing across the industry through the Protein PACT because it really brings all of the companies, big and small, together where we can tackle the key challenges facing the industry.”

Bozzo became an officer in 2023, serving as secretary, treasurer and vice chairman. He has been a member of the executive board for 18 years, where he has chaired the Intellectual Properties Committee and served on the Finance Committee.

In 2011, Bozzo was hired as EVP at Michael’s Finer Meats in Columbus, Ohio. As a member of Michael’s executive team, he and his team oversee the purchasing, production and operations aspects of the company while working with some of the company’s key accounts. Michael’s Finer Meats and Seafoods, founded in 1962, is a foodservice portion control processor of meat, seafood and specialty items for primarily the restaurant industry and since 2012, is part of Chef’s Warehouse family of meat companies.

Prior to Michael’s Finer Meats, Bozzo worked for Chicago Meat Authority, a specialty processor of beef and pork for further processors and the foodservice industry, where he served in various roles including marketing, sales and operations. Bozzo is a graduate of Purdue University in West Lafayette, Ind., and now resides in Powell, Ohio.

Meat Institute officers for 2025 include Treasurer Randy Huffman of Maple Leaf Foods, Secretary John Amidei of Swaggerty Sausage Co., Immediate Past Chairman Eric R. Gustafson of Coast Packing Co., and Julie Anna Potts.

The executive board also approved Suzanne Strassburger Reidy, owner and CEO of Strassburger Meats, and Tony Catelli, president and CEO of Catelli Brothers, to serve as co-chairs of the Meat PAC, the Meat Institute’s political action committee.

Source: Meat Institute