Utz Brands Announces Passing of Michael W. Rice, Chairman Emeritus
Business Wire•14/10/2026•13:15 ET
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Key Highlights
- ➤Michael W. Rice, Utz chairman emeritus, died October 10 in Hershey, Pennsylvania
- ➤Utz's planned fourth-quarter 2026 transaction remains unaffected by Rice's passing
- ➤Utz will return to private ownership, with families and Intersnack each owning 50%
- ➤Rice led Utz's expansion nationally as president and CEO from 1978
- ➤Utz opened a 650,000-square-foot logistics hub named the Rice Distribution Center
Expert Statements
Howard Friedman, Chief Executive Officer at Utz
“Mike is a true Utz icon whose contributions to the company are too numerous to count. What was always clear was Mike’s belief and treatment of the associates of this company as family. His legacy at Utz will forever live on.”
Dylan Lissette, Chairperson of the Utz Board of Directors
“After 30-plus years of working aside Mike, I can easily say that there was no other individual who contributed so much to the success of this business over the last 50 plus years. Mike had a strategic vision of where this company could go, hired great people along the way, and I know ultimately that there was nothing that gave him more pride than hearing about our associates, and their successes in growing the company across the US”
Mike Rice and Jane Rice, Founders of the Rice Family Foundation
“Our Grandparents and Parents strongly believed that it was important to give back to the community, a meaningful part of the wonderful success we are blessed with. Without the diligent efforts of our associates, our success would not have been possible. We believe this foundation will be a meaningful way to help ensure that giving back can continue into the future.”
Utz Brands Announces Passing of Michael W. Rice, Chairman Emeritus
Utz Brands, Inc. (NYSE: UTZ) (“Utz” or the “Company”), a leading U.S. manufacturer of branded salty snacks, today announced that Michael “Mike” W. Rice, a leader of Utz for over fifty years, passed away on October 10(th) in Hershey, PA surrounded by his family.
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