AUSTIN, MINN. — Hormel Foods Corp. promoted Steve Lykken to group vice president of supply chain. He succeeds Mark Coffey, who is retiring. 

Lykken will oversee the company’s One Supply Chain organization, which includes procurement, manufacturing, engineering, logistics, research and development, quality management, and plant operations.

Lykken was president of Jennie-O Turkey Store for six years before being promoted to group vice president of supply chain. Most recently, he was president at Applegate Farms for two years.

Lykken joined Hormel Foods in 1992 as a sales account executive. He was later named senior vice president of the retail division of Jennie-O Turkey Store in 2003, and senior vice president of supply chain for the business in 2011. He was named chief operating officer of Applegate Farms in 2015. The following year, he was appointed senior vice president of Hormel Foods and president of Jennie-O Turkey Store, the company said.

Lykken received an international business degree from Minnesota State University Moorhead.

Coffey has been with Hormel Foods since 1985, when he was hired as a supervisor at the company’s former Ottumwa, Iowa, plant. He later moved to the company’s corporate headquarters in 1991 as a product manufacturing manager for cured and smoked meats. He has held several leadership positions before being named group vice president of supply chain for Hormel Foods global operations in 2021.

Coffey received his business and system management degree from Central College in Pella, Iowa.

“Mark has been a highly respected and impactful leader over his almost 40-year career with the company,” said James P. Snee, chairman of the board, president and chief executive officer at Hormel Foods. “His perseverance and empowering leadership through the challenges of the COVID pandemic were indispensable, and his operational expertise has been transformational. I thank Mark and his wife Tammy for their commitment and engagement in our community and wish them both the best in retirement.

“Steve's breadth and depth of experience across our company, including business unit leadership, supply chain management, sales and marketing, makes him well suited for this critical role. I look forward to Steve's vision and leadership to continue our track record of operational excellence.”