EDWARDSVILLE, ILL. — Ed Mullins is stepping down as chief executive officer and executive vice president at Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. to assume a new role as senior executive officer. Matt McClelland, currently senior vice president, will replace Mr. Mullins in the top spot at the dairy cooperative.

Mr. Mullins has been with Prairie Farms for more than 40 years and will remain involved in day-to-day operations. Mr. McClelland joined the cooperative in 1991 and has held numerous leadership positions in sales and operations. The transition will take effect on Jan. 1, 2022.

"On behalf of the board, I want to thank Ed for his extraordinary commitment to Prairie Farms during the past four decades and thank Matt for accepting the CEO position," said Tony Graves, Prairie Farms' board president. "Ed and Matt have a combined 70-years of service to Prairie Farms, and we are proud of their exceptional leadership. As they assume their new roles, the board has great confidence in their expertise to lead our cooperative into the next phase of growth."

With annual sales over $3 billion, Prairie Farms Dairy produces and distributes milk, cheese and cultured dairy products to grocery chains, mass merchandiser stores, club stores, convenience and dollar stores, drug stores and foodservice outlets in the Midwest and South. The cooperative includes more than 700 farm families, 8,100 employees, 50 manufacturing plants, more than 100 distribution facilities.