Edward F. Knecht served as the Executive Vice President of Procurement at National Beverage Corp. from 2005 until his retirement in May 2011. He was a long-time industry expert, bringing many years of experience in procurement to the company. Before...

Edward F. Knecht served as the Executive Vice President of Procurement at National Beverage Corp. from 2005 until his retirement in May 2011. He was a long-time industry expert, bringing many years of experience in procurement to the company. Before joining National Beverage, he was the President of Shasta Sweetener Corp., a position he held since 1998. Knecht kept a low profile in the company despite his significant role. Most notably, he had a unique compensation arrangement where, in 2011, his total compensation amounted to $6.3 million, which was primarily from management fees that he received through his management company. It’s interesting that he only had stock options, but they were tied to his long-term commitment to the company and performance metrics. Even after he retired, he still had some shareholding in National Beverage, reflecting his ongoing connection to the company. His retirement marked the end of an era for National Beverage, as he played a crucial role in its growth during his time there. His career highlights the importance of procurement experts in the beverage industry and how their strategic decisions can shape a company's success.