Vipond Will Be Responsible for All PFI Operations In His New Role
ALGONA, Iowa, March 7, 2023 – Today, PFI, a manufacturer of sanitary conveying equipment, announced it has named Tom Vipond as Division General Manager of PFI, a manufacturer of sanitary conveying equipment. Vipond will oversee all PFI locations and operations and will continue to report to Bob Grote, chief executive officer of Grote Company, PFI’s parent company.
“We’re truly excited to continue to work with Tom Vipond to grow PFI,” said Bob Grote. “In his tenure with PFI, Tom has proven to be forward-thinking and bold, demonstrating a knack for understanding our customer’s needs and direction. His customer-centric focus promises to carry on our enduring commitment to each company we work with.”
“As part of the Grote family of brands, we at PFI look forward to working hand-in-hand to keep growing the business,” Vipond said. “As PFI heads into its next chapter, my focus is on our customers and building on our talented internal team.”
Vipond joined PFI in January 2022 as general manager at its Algona facility. He has more than two decades of experience in the food industry, much of it with PFI when it was known as Kofab.
PFI was acquired by Grote Company in 2021. It has locations in Algona, Iowa, and San Antonio, Texas.
About PFI
PFI brings more than 75 years of deep experience and time-tested food-conveying technology to every project and takes a consultative approach to solve any challenge, big or small. Decision-makers at food processing companies — from engineers to operations managers, food safety and maintenance managers — choose PFI for custom-configured conveying solutions that help them address supply chain issues, limited human resources, food safety, sanitation, cost, and long-term viability. Based in Algona, Iowa, PFI is part of the Grote Company family of brands.
About Grote Company
Grote Company manufactures reliable, top-quality food slicing and assembly equipment. Our trusted equipment is expertly designed and built strong for pizza, sandwich, and food-slicing processors. With a personal touch and enduring commitment to our customers and employees, we collaborate as one team to solve tough problems. We proudly serve not only the equipment we build, but also the people who operate and depend on it. Visit Grote Company online at www.grotecompany.com.
