Former Mars exec tapped to lead Gay Lea Foods

Gay Lea Foods president and chief executive Michael Barrett is to retire early next year after 22 years with the company.

Former Mars executive Suzanna Dalrymple will succeed Barrett, effective Feb. 1, 2023.

Barrett has held his current position since 2014. During that time, the co-operative has grown through several acquisitions, including expansion into Western Canada; constructed a nutraceutical-grade dairy ingredients facility; and made investments to modernize and expand its existing processing capacity and capabilities in Ontario.

Dalrymple led the Canada Pet Nutrition unit for Mars as general manager. Prior to that, she spent almost two decades at Procter & Gamble Canada. 

She begins her transition into Gay Lea foods on Oct. 31. Barrett will retire on Jan. 31, 2023.

“Gay Lea Foods has achieved remarkable growth over the last eight years thanks to the vision, leadership and team that Michael has built within and surrounding our co-operative,” Board Chair Rob Goodwill said in a statement. “During his time as CEO, we have transformed our co-operative into a national business while setting it on a strong path toward our next phase of sustainable growth and our shared purpose of Enriching communities co-operatively. I am excited by the opportunities ahead as we look forward to further realizing our potential as a sustainable, growing foods co-operative with Suzanna Dalrymple as our incoming CEO.”