Flowers Foods names Michelle Lorge president of Simple Mills

Flowers Foods Inc. (NYSE: FLO) appointed Michelle Lorge as president of Simple Mills, the company announced March 2. Lorge will report to Ryals McMullian, chairman and CEO of Flowers Foods.

Lorge succeeds Katlin Smith, who founded Simple Mills and served as CEO. Smith stepped down to spend more time with family and philanthropic interests, according to the press release. She will continue with the company in an advisory capacity.

Lorge has worked at Simple Mills for 11 years, joining in 2015 as one of the brand's first employees. She most recently served as chief marketing, innovation, and mission officer. Before Simple Mills, she spent more than a decade at Kraft Foods leading brand marketing and product innovation.

Under Smith's leadership since 2012, Simple Mills grew into a brand distributed in more than 30,000 stores nationwide, including Whole Foods, Target, Walmart, and Costco. The company produces natural crackers, cookies, bars, and baking mixes.

"Michelle has been instrumental in shaping Simple Mills into the mission-driven, high-growth brand it is today," McMullian said in the press release. "Her deep understanding of the business, strong leadership skills, and unwavering commitment to the company's purpose make her exceptionally well-suited to lead Simple Mills into its next chapter."

Flowers Foods, headquartered in Thomasville, Georgia, reported net sales of $5.3 billion in 2025. The company operates bakeries across the United States and owns brands including Nature's Own, Dave's Killer Bread, Canyon Bakehouse, Wonder, and Tastykake.

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