Roma Foods has lost the executive who helped turn it from a niche health-food supplier into a mainstream grocery player. For FMCG operators, that matters because leadership churn at a manufacturer with supermarket reach can reshape product priorities, retailer relationships and capital allocation.
The company says Sam Schachna will depart after more than six years as chief executive, while Max Buontempo stays on as managing director to lead operations. Roma Foods is now reviewing its long-term corporate structure and is also looking at future leadership options, both internally and externally.
What is Roma Foods and why it matters for FMCG
Roma Foods sits in a useful part of the market because it straddles branded health-led products and private label manufacturing. That gives it a different commercial profile from a pure niche brand: it must keep innovation moving while also meeting the service expectations of major retailers.
In Australia, that combination matters more than ever. Supermarkets want dependable supply, faster category refreshes and manufacturers that can support both branded shelf space and own-label programs. When a supplier like Roma Foods changes leadership, buyers and competitors alike watch for shifts in product mix, investment pace and how firmly the business keeps its retailer footing.
Roma Foods CEO departure and leadership transition
The company confirmed that Schachna joined in January 2020 and focused first on keeping local supply chains moving during global logistics disruption. It says he helped stabilise factory output and steer the business through a period when continuity mattered as much as growth.
During his tenure, Roma Foods expanded its 15,000-sqm Carrum Downs production facility with support from government incentives, including the Federal Advanced Manufacturing Initiative. It also moved from a single-shift model to broader operations, which suggests the business used that period to lift manufacturing capacity rather than simply defend existing volume.
The company said Schachna’s leadership also strengthened research and development, with more than 40 new products launched. Those launches helped push Roma Foods from health-food aisles into mainstream supermarket categories, with products such as the plant-based Spliits crispbread line and Pasta Roma! becoming part of that broader shift.
| Leadership era | Confirmed move | Commercial significance |
|---|---|---|
| January 2020 onward | Sam Schachna appointed CEO | Focus on supply continuity during logistics disruption |
| During tenure | 15,000-sqm Carrum Downs facility upgraded | Higher production capacity and stronger manufacturing base |
| During tenure | More than 40 new products launched | Broader range support for supermarket expansion |
| Current position | Buontempo leads operations as MD | Operational continuity while board reviews structure |
How Roma Foods built its supermarket footprint
Roma Foods’ growth story is really about moving from specialist relevance to mainstream shelf presence. That usually requires three things: enough manufacturing headroom to service retail demand, a product pipeline that keeps buyers interested and the discipline to supply private label without distracting from the brand portfolio.
Its work with Coles, Woolworths and Aldi shows how far the business has moved beyond a single-channel model. Private label development can be commercially powerful because it fills factory capacity and deepens retailer ties, but it also puts pressure on margin management and execution.
It is also notable that the company recently produced Orgran Protein Crispbread through its internal development teams. That tells me the business still wants to keep innovation close to home, which is important in a market where retailers reward speed but punish inconsistency.
What this leadership change does not change
Schachna will remain for an unspecified transition period, so this is not an abrupt break in management. The company has also said the existing leadership team stays in place, which should reduce operational noise in the near term.
What remains unclear is whether the board’s structure review will lead to a broader reset. There is no confirmed change to ownership, and no formal announcement yet on whether Roma Foods will appoint a new CEO, general manager or another senior executive.
For now, the manufacturing base, retailer relationships and product pipeline remain intact. The real test will be whether the next leadership phase preserves momentum while keeping supermarket customers confident in supply and innovation.
That matters most for suppliers tied into the Roma Foods network, as well as retailers that rely on its branded and private-label output. If the transition stays orderly, the benefit should land first with customers who value steady supply, then with the business itself as it pushes the next stage of growth.
What the Roma Foods CEO change signals for mainstream grocery manufacturing
This is part of a wider pattern across FMCG manufacturing in Australia. Businesses that moved quickly through the pandemic and logistics crisis are now reassessing how much leadership they need to support the next phase of scale, especially as supermarket buyer power stays high and shelf competition gets tighter.
Roma Foods has already shown it can turn capacity, product development and retailer relationships into growth. The question now is whether a new leadership structure can protect that base while keeping the business sharp enough for mainstream grocery, where speed, reliability and range discipline matter more than ever.
If you track supply-side shifts in Australian grocery, this is one to watch closely, because the next move at Roma Foods will say a lot about how mid-sized manufacturers plan to compete in 2026.