Simply Good Foods brings back former CEO

Food Dive reported the development on 2026-01-21. Joe Scalzo is returning as the Atkins owner faces decreased demand with consumers abandoning low-carb diets in favor of GLP-1s.

The report places the news in a wider commercial context. Simply Good Foods said Joe Scalzo will return as its president and CEO as the Atkins and Quest owner looks to improve profitability. Scalzo, who formerly held the top executive role from 2017 to 2023, is assuming the position immediately. He succeeds Geoff Tanner, who joined Simply Good Foods after a nearly seven-year tenure at J.M. Smucker.

For the food sector, the practical implications extend beyond the immediate announcement. The protein shake and snack maker said Scalzo brings “immediate familiarity with the company” and a vision to “lead a modern nutritional snacking platform.”. The switchup comes as Simply Good Foods has seen declines at its Atkins brand. Known for promoting a low-carbohydrate diet, the brand has slipped from prominence while GLP-1 medications for weight loss have been.

Attention now turns to how companies, customers and regulators respond. Atkins sales declined 16.5% in the most recent quarter. Though Simply Good has seen some growth from its protein-focused Quest brand, it hasn’t been enough to offset the decline from Atkins. Overall net sales for the first quarter were flat at $340.2 million. Simply Good joins a growing number of food companies that have rehired a former CEO, including Boston Beer and Hormel.