HARRISBURG, Pa. – The National Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association (NFRA) and the American Frozen Food Institute (AFFI) are pleased to announce that the Distinguished Order of Zerocrats has selected three food industry leaders as the 2020 Frozen Food Hall of Fame inductees.
The 2020 inductees are J. William “Bill” Hudson, former President/CEO, Global Cold Chain Alliance; Tom Madden, President, Rite Stuff Foods and David E. Moore, former Chairman and co-founder, Superior Foods.
Bill Hudson is a partner in the Heidrick & Struggles Washington, D.C., office and serves the trade and professional association market to provide recruitment services, on-boarding of new executives, succession planning and nonprofit board development. Hudson began his association leadership career at the U.S. Travel Association. From 1982 until 2015, he served as president and CEO of the Global Cold Chain Alliance (GCCA), a partnership of associations dedicated to the distribution of food commodities worldwide. Under Hudson’s leadership, GCCA evolved into a global organization with members in 76 countries and offices worldwide. Through the World Food Logistics Organization, he initiated partnerships with USDA, USAID, USTD and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation to address post-harvest challenges around the world.
Tom Madden began his career in 1961 with General Foods, moving on to various sales and management positions of increasing responsibility with Dole, Castle & Cooke and then Calavo. He began his own business in 1989, founding Rite Stuff Foods, processing specialty potato products with a focus on quality, service and creative new flavors and sizes. As the business grew, Madden moved the company from California to Idaho, closer to the source of potatoes and providing more production and warehouse space. Rite Stuff continued to grow by adding new products including fried and filled potato shells and wedges. With national distribution and 250 workers, Madden sold the company to Frostkrone Food Group in February 2019. The new owners will continue building the line and adding new snack and handheld products.
David Moore served as chairman and co-founder of Superior Foods leading its growth to one of the largest companies in the frozen industry. He managed the company for 35 years before retiring from day-to-day activities in 2013, although he remains active in the company and the industry. Superior Foods led and integrated new developments in package design, functionality and usage, introducing steam-in-the-bag technology to the retail market in 2005. Moore’s company was also the first to introduce Bag-in-Bag packaging. The concept grew from club stores’ need to provide frozen asparagus in a package that both creates smaller units within a bag and protects the product against breakage. Moore currently serves on the board of Superior Foods and AFFI. He previously served on the Frozen Food Foundation Board of Directors.
The inductees will be honored at the Distinguished Order of Zerocrats meeting during the AFFI Frozen Food Convention (AFFI-CON) on Monday, March 2, 2020, at The Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.
The Frozen Food Hall of Fame was established in 1990 by the Distinguished Order of Zerocrats, an organization of industry members whose purpose is to maintain the tradition of promoting the image and advancement of the frozen food industry. These members nominate and vote on the newest inductees, whose dedication and hard work have greatly benefited the industry. A special industry-wide ceremony honors the imagination and innovation that have ensured the continued growth and success of the frozen food industry.
