Celebrating the 35th class of unstoppable entrepreneurs who transform their industries
May 5th, 20201; Meridian, Idaho – Ernst & Young LLP (EY US) today announced that Rob Holland, Executive Chairman of Flagship Food Group, was named an Entrepreneur Of The Year® 2021 Utah Region Award finalist. Now in its 35th year, the Entrepreneur Of The Year program honors unstoppable business leaders whose ambition, ingenuity and courage in the face of adversity help catapult us from the now to next and beyond.
Holland was selected by a panel of independent judges. Award winners will be announced during a special virtual celebration on July 29 and will become lifetime members of an esteemed community of Entrepreneur Of The Year alumni from around the world.
Holland formed Flagship in 2012 to bring together a portfolio of premium, branded food products companies. He served as CEO from 2012 to 2017, and today continues to serve as Executive Chairman. Flagship sells products under the Lilly B’s, 505 Southwestern, La Tortilla Factory, and TJ Farms brands. In addition, Flagship works with premier food retailers and manufacturers by providing third party logistics, packaging, and brokerage services. Among its prized brand assets, 505 Southwestern is the country’s largest jarred green chile brand, and grew by approximately 50% in 2020 and is the fastest growing brand in its category.
Entrepreneur Of The Year is one of the preeminent competitive award programs for entrepreneurs and leaders of high-growth companies. The nominees are evaluated based on six criteria: entrepreneurial leadership; talent management; degree of difficulty; financial performance; societal impact and building a values-based company; and originality, innovation and future plans. Since its launch, the program has expanded to recognize business leaders in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries around the world.
“Entrepreneurship has been in my blood since I grew up around my dad and saw the businesses and inventions that he created. That inspiration lives on as I have very proudly built one of the leading privately-held diversified branded CPG companies in the country. We have an incredible team and plants and facilities across the US that are all focused on bringing great products to our customers,” said Holland, who started his first business in middle school. In growing Flagship, Holland has led nearly 20 acquisitions of small and medium sized food companies, including three in Europe.
Regional award winners are eligible for consideration for the Entrepreneur Of The Year National Awards, to be announced in November at the Strategic Growth Forum®, one of the nation’s most prestigious gatherings of high-growth, market-leading companies. The Entrepreneur Of The Year National Overall Award winner will then move on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ Award in June 2022.
Sponsors
Founded and produced by Ernst & Young LLP, the Entrepreneur Of The Year Awards are nationally sponsored by SAP America.
In the Utah Region, sponsors also include Diversified Insurance Group, PNC Bank, Silicon Slopes, Strong & Hanni Law Firm and Truss.
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About Entrepreneur Of The Year®
Entrepreneur Of The Year® is the world’s most prestigious business awards program for unstoppable entrepreneurs. These visionary leaders deliver innovation, growth and prosperity that transform our world. The program engages entrepreneurs with insights and experiences that foster growth. It connects them with their peers to strengthen entrepreneurship around the world. Entrepreneur Of The Year is the first and only truly global awards program of its kind. It celebrates entrepreneurs through regional and national awards programs in more than 145 cities in over 60 countries. National Overall winners go on to compete for the EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ title. ey.com/us/eoy
About Flagship Food Group
Flagship Food Group is a diversified, global food company that brings premium and better-for-you food products to world. Operating through several brands, as well as through private label relationships with some of the country’s best retailers, Flagship operates in the Hispanic and ethic foods, tortilla, frozen organic fruit and vegetable, and hot sauce/salsa industry segments. Its 505 Southwestern brand is the country’s largest and fastest growing jarred green chile brand. Its Lilly B’s brand is one of the largest organic burrito brands sold in the club channel. Its La Tortilla Factory brand is the largest nationally-distributed tortilla brand with a focus on organic and better for you. Its TJ Farms brand provides high quality frozen food offerings at fair prices. The company has operations in six states and employs over 500 dedicated professionals.
www.vimeo.com/flagshipfoodgroup/joininourpassion
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