SILOAM SPRINGS, AR (January 27, 2026) Simmons Prepared Foods announced today that Jesse Chester has joined the company as Vice President of Business Planning, Category Development, and Insights. In this role, Chester will lead strategic business planning, category development, and insights to support Simmons’ continued growth and strengthen data-driven decision-making across the organization.
“Jesse’s experience across sectors and global markets will be instrumental as we continue to advance our business planning capabilities, elevate category development, and strengthen insights across Simmons,” said David Rose, “His leadership will help our teams align priorities and execute with greater clarity and confidence.”
Chester brings more than 20 years of senior leadership experience across global consumer packaged goods companies, with deep expertise in category management, demand planning, commercial strategy, and customer collaboration across Pet and Confection categories in the United States and China.
Most recently, Chester served as Head of Category Management at Elanco, where he led enterprise-wide category strategy, and insights across an animal health portfolio. Prior to Elanco, he spent more than 11 years at Mars in senior category and commercial leadership roles, guiding cross-functional teams and leading major initiatives across multiple categories and international markets.
Chester holds an MBA in Entrepreneurship from the University of Arkansas and a Bachelor of Arts in Finance, Management, and Marketing from Ouachita Baptist University. He and his family reside in Northwest Arkansas.
For more information on Simmons Foods, visit www.workatsimmons.com.
About Simmons Foods Inc. and Affiliates
Simmons Foods and its Affiliates are leading suppliers of poultry, pet and animal nutrition products based in Siloam Springs, Arkansas. Simmons works with farmers, communities, and team members to apply 70+ years of experience to serving customers. Simmons Prepared Foods ranks in the top 15 poultry producers in the United States, Simmons Pet Food is the largest supplier of store brand wet pet food in North America, and Simmons Animal Nutrition boasts an innovative line of proprietary animal nutrition products. With 9,000 team members, Simmons Foods and its Affiliates serve customers in all 50 states and more than 40 countries around the world.
