Heritage Pork Producer Cook Pigs Announces Appointment of Lawrence Johnson to Chief Operating Officer

    SAN DIEGO, CA, February 04, 2015 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Cook Pigs LLC, a heritage pig ranch operation based in Julian, California announced that the company had named Lawrence (Larry) Johnson to be Chief Operating Officer.

Johnson brings a deep level of expertise as a founder and president of a specialty food products company and leader of the Food & Beverage Industry Practice of Stanton Associates LLC. Johnson is frequently quoted in the business press speaking on food industry issues. Previously he served as a Managing Director at Deloitte. Johnson is a graduate of Columbia University's MBA program.

Johnson will be responsible for the growth and development of the Cook Pigs heritage pork brand, spearheading strategic sales and marketing efforts to expand distribution and providing oversight of ranching and production operations.

"I am excited to be part of the Cook Pigs team, charged with broadening the distribution of this amazing product to a wider wholesale audience," said Johnson. "I've always been fascinated by Spain's jamón iberico, how they raise their pigs in such a way as to create a truly premium quality product. I think there's a big opportunity for Cook Pigs, whose animals are raised in the same iberico tradition."

Cook Pigs currently is enjoyed mainly by customers in the San Diego area. Consumers can buy the farm-direct fresh pork at the Cook Family Butcher Shop located in the Kearny Mesa area or partake of the product at fine restaurants whose menus feature heritage pork from Cook Pigs. In addition, fine chefs and restaurants in the greater Los Angeles area have discovered the unique value of the Cook Pigs meat product, like Chef Matt Poley at Heirloom and Chef Walter Manzke at Republique. Southern Californians can also find Cook Pigs heritage pork at Strand House in Manhattan Beach, Bouchon in Beverly Hills, Cooks County in Los Angeles, and McCall's Butcher Shop in the Los Feliz area.

"It's a unique and distinctive flavor, not like the pork you buy at the supermarket," continued Johnson. "And it addresses the growing demand for food items that are free of hormones, antibiotics and other non-natural supplements. All of this makes for a truly superlative product, which will be offered under the premium brand that we are building."

"Adding Larry to the team is an important element of our overall plan to take the company to the next level and establish the Cook Pigs brand as the best quality purveyor of fresh heritage pork," reported Jeff Asher, CEO of Cook Pigs. "We've spent years perfecting our approach to heritage pig raising that results in amazing quality meat," continued Asher,."Now we are ready to offer the product to a broader audience of fine food service establishments and specialty retailers, and we know Larry is just the guy who can help us make that happen."

About Cook Pigs
Located in Julian, CA, Cook Pigs Ranch is a family-run operation which raises heritage pigs humanely and sustainably in the iberico tradition. The feed program features a proprietary blend, free of hormones and non-natural supplements. The pastured pigs are raised to produce a premium quality of pork with beautiful marbling, large fat caps and distinctive flavor. Cook Pigs heritage pork was highlighted as the centerpiece ingredient of Chef Ray Garcia's winning entry at the Grand Cochon 2014, the grand finale of the Cochon US Tour ten-city culinary competition of dishes featuring heritage breed pork from America's best and most innovative chefs.

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