Lindt North America chief takes reins at Russell Stover
Pfluger will continue to serve in Lindt's group management as head of the North America region but now assumes additional responsibilities as president and CEO of Russell Stover Candy.
He replaces Thomas Ward, who was a family owner of Russell Stover before the Lindt deal.
In July, Lindt acquired Russell Stover to leapfrog Nestle as the third largest confectionery company in the US behind Hershey and Mars.
The US was already Lindt’s largest sales market before the deal and it had identified the country as its most important for future growth.
Pfluger was CEO of Lindt's US subsidiary Ghirardelli between 2005 and 2011.
Late last month, Lindt announced it had acquired a 400,000-square foot warehouse and distribution center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The facility will eventually feature a Lindt USA factory retail store.
The new warehouse will cater for additional products coming from Lindt’s expanded US headquarters in Stratham, New Hampshire.
In March, the company said it would add 108,000 sq ft to Lindt USA’s HQ in Stratham, New Hampshire over the next several years, adding new lines for its new Hello brand, Lindor single-serve bars and Excellence individually wrapped chocolate diamonds.
Lindt also operates US subsidiary Ghirardelli Chocolate, which is led by Marty Thompson.
The company also announced this week that Rolf Fallegger, former member of the company’s Extended Group Management had been appointed a member of its Group Management.