Flowers Foods Taps Insider Michelle Lorge to Lead Simple Mills
Event summary
- Michelle Lorge, an 11-year Simple Mills veteran, promoted to president on March 2, 2026.
- Founder Katlin Smith steps down to advisory role after 14 years.
- Simple Mills distributed in 30,000+ stores nationwide.
- Lorge previously served as chief marketing, innovation, and mission officer.
- Flowers Foods reported $5.3B net sales in 2025.
The big picture
Flowers Foods' promotion of Michelle Lorge to lead Simple Mills underscores the strategic importance of mission-driven brands in the packaged foods sector. With $5.3B in annual revenue, Flowers is integrating Lorge's deep product innovation experience to sustain Simple Mills' growth amid shifting consumer preferences toward health-conscious and sustainable products. The transition from founder Katlin Smith to an insider leader signals both continuity and a new operational phase for the brand.
What we're watching
- Brand Evolution
- How Lorge will balance Simple Mills' mission-driven ethos with Flowers Foods' operational scale.
- Growth Strategy
- Whether the leadership transition will accelerate or disrupt Simple Mills' expansion in 30,000+ stores.
- Mission Continuity
- The pace at which Lorge can maintain Smith's wellness and sustainability initiatives while driving profitability.
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