Jacksonville-based Rubix Foods announced Aug. 4 the appointment of Ryan Smith as CEO.
Rubix Foods develops, tests and provides flavor and functional ingredients for restaurants and food manufacturers.
“Rubix has a well-deserved reputation as a true innovation powerhouse, developing flavors and technologies that have shaped food and beverage offerings for leading brands,” Smith said in a news release.
“I’m energized by the opportunity to lead such a forward-thinking team, and eager to deepen customer partnerships while advancing breakthrough innovations that drive sustainable growth.”
Jacksonville-founded Rubix Foods, previously called Darifair, was acquired by the Arbor Investments private equity firm in 2019.
In April, Arbor said the Block family, which founded Rubix and held it through four generations, sold its remaining ownership interest.
“We enjoyed an outstanding run with Arbor,” then-CEO Andy Block said in an April news release.
“Their strategic support was instrumental in accelerating our company’s growth and expansion. At their core, the Arbor team are entrepreneurs and their likeminded, ‘roll up your sleeves’ mentality made them the ideal partner for our family and Rubix Foods over the last six years.”
Smith was chief growth officer and executive vice president at Ajinomoto Health & Nutrition, where he led a team of more than 400 employees and managed the North America Food Ingredients and Animal Nutrition divisions.
Before that, Smith was vice president and general manager of Kerry Group’s dairy and bakery markets.
“Ryan brings the rare combination of deep industry expertise and a proven track record of growth with foodservice and CPG customers,” John Jordan, president of Arbor Investments, said in the release.
“He’s a strong, people-centric leader who knows how to build and empower high-performing teams, making him the ideal fit for Rubix’s continued evolution.”
“Ryan has decades of experience winning new business with innovative, on-trend solutions,” Arbor principal Scott Farmer said in the release.
“He will capitalize on Rubix’s differentiated R&D capabilities to significantly increase the company’s position as the go-to provider of traffic-driving flavors for restaurants and CPG brands.”
The Rubix Foods headquarters and Innovation Center, which opened in 2022, is at 13203 Flagler Center Blvd. in Flagler Center, the office and industrial park south of Old St. Augustine Road between Interstate 95 and Philips Highway.
Palm Beach-based Arbor Investments focuses on companies in food, beverage, and related industries. It says it has acquired or invested in more than 85 companies in North America.
Current Arbor properties include Artisanal Brewing Ventures, Bradshaw Home, Carnivore Meat Co., Crown Bakeries, Dr. G’s Ingredients, Fontaine Santé, Golden Waffles, Oregon Freeze Dry, Red Collar Pet Foods and Steelite International.