Just Born Quality Confections, the family-owned confectionery company behind well-known brands such as PEEPS®, MIKE AND IKE®, HOT TAMALES® and GOLDENBERG’S PEANUT CHEWS®, has announced the appointment of Matt Butkus as Head of Sales.
Butkus joins the company with more than 20 years of leadership experience in the Consumer Packaged Goods sector. Throughout his career, he has demonstrated a strong ability to drive sales growth, develop high-performing teams and build lasting partnerships with retailers across mass, grocery, drug and specialty channels.
“Matt’s strategic approach and collaborative leadership style make him an outstanding addition to our team,” said Meenakshi Trehan, Chief Growth Officer at Just Born. “His passion for empowering teams and fostering innovation will help guide us as we strengthen our presence across channels and pursue new growth opportunities. We’re thrilled to welcome him to the Just Born family.”
Prior to joining Just Born, Butkus led the sales organisation at hello brand, part of Colgate-Palmolive, where he achieved growth at five times the category average while further strengthening relationships with leading retail partners. Earlier in his career, he held several senior roles at Colgate-Palmolive, including Director of Business Development for Oral Care and Senior Sales Team Lead for Kroger. In these positions, he consistently delivered market share gains and exceeded both revenue and profitability targets through strategic execution and close collaboration.
The announcement also marks the retirement of Frank Amato, who has held sales leadership positions for over two decades and retired on January 5, 2026, following 21 years with Just Born. Amato has partnered closely with Butkus during the transition period to support continuity and long-term success.
“Frank’s leadership and commitment have made a lasting impact on our business and culture,” added Trehan. “We are deeply grateful for his contributions and wish him the very best in his retirement.”
Beyond his professional achievements, Butkus brings a strong sense of community engagement to his new role. Outside of work, he enjoys soccer, golf and following college sports, and is an active volunteer with Habitat for Humanity and Feed My Starving Children, underscoring his commitment to giving back.
Read more latest industry news and developments in our free to download magazine.
Never miss a story… Follow us on:
LinkedIn: International Confectionery
YouTube: @ConfectioneryTV
Media contact
Joseph Clarke
Editor, International Confectionery
Tel: +44 (0) 1622 823 920
Email: [email protected]
