Ocean Spray Cranberries has appointed consumer packaged goods veteran Abigail Buckwalter as its new president and chief executive officer, bringing a seasoned global executive to lead the nearly century-old agricultural cooperative through a period of evolving consumer preferences and increased focus on health and wellness.

Buckwalter joins Ocean Spray from Nestlé Health Science US, where she served as CEO for the past three years, overseeing an organisation of more than 6,000 employees and a multi-billion-dollar portfolio of consumer and healthcare brands.

Her appointment signals Ocean Spray's intention to accelerate growth, innovation, and operational excellence as demand for functional foods and beverages continues to rise.

Peter P. Dhillon, chairman of the cooperative's board of directors, said: "Abigail is a transformational leader, and we are thrilled to welcome her to Ocean Spray. She brings both the global business experience needed to drive growth and the instincts to build brands that last."

Dhillon noted that Buckwalter's combination of operational expertise, innovation leadership, and people-focused management style made her the standout candidate to guide Ocean Spray into its second century.

Buckwalter spent 15 years at Nestlé Health Science, playing a key role in the development and expansion of the business since its inception. Throughout leadership positions spanning Europe, Oceania and North America, she led portfolio optimisation efforts, business turnarounds, operational improvement initiatives and innovation programmes that delivered market share gains and profitable growth.

Her appointment comes as food and beverage manufacturers navigate shifting consumer expectations around nutrition, functionality, and transparency.

Ocean Spray, whose cranberry-based beverages, snacks, and ingredients are sold in more than 100 countries, has increasingly emphasised the health benefits associated with cranberries while continuing to expand its product portfolio.

"Our industry finds itself at an incredibly dynamic tipping point in consumer behaviour and buying habits," Buckwalter said. "I believe Ocean Spray, with its iconic brand and global platform, is uniquely positioned to deliver against those expectations around taste and health benefits."

She added that her leadership approach will focus on combining consumer-centric innovation with strong operational execution to support long-term growth.

Buckwalter's background extends beyond consumer packaged goods to include experience in healthcare, foodservice and the non-profit sector. She holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin and an MBA from Columbia University. Earlier this year, she was recognised with the University of Wisconsin School of Journalism and Mass Communication's Distinguished Service Award.

Founded in 1930, Ocean Spray is owned by approximately 700 family farmers across the United States, Canada and Chile. The cooperative markets more than 1,000 cranberry-based products globally and remains one of the most recognisable brands in the juice and fruit-based beverage category.