Mrs. Fields reorganizes product development group

23/03/05 Premium snacks producer Mrs. Fields Famous Brands said today that it has completed a reorganization of its product development group, doubling staff and bringing the organization into the company's marketing division.

Steve Russo, Mrs. Fields Famous Brands president and CEO, said the change will help the company better execute on two of its priority objectives -- building profitable year-over-year sales growth for franchisees and accelerating profitable new franchise store openings -- by bringing products with strong consumer appeal to the market with greater frequency.

Craig Bennett has been hired as director of research and development for the company. Bennett has over 25 years of bakery, confectionery and dairy product development experience and has worked for such companies as Kraft, Quest International and Sensient.

As part of the reorganization, the company has also named Paul Kershisnik director of product development. Kershisnik, who has worked in marketing for 17 years, will oversee new product development for each of the company's five brands, working closely with the company's research and development group.