8-K

UNITED STATES

SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

FORM 8-K

CURRENT REPORT

Pursuant to Section 13 OR 15(d)

of The Securities Exchange Act of 1934

Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported): December 15, 2021

MISSION PRODUCE, INC.

(Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware	001-39561	95-3847744
(State or Other Jurisdiction of Incorporation or Organization)	(Commission file number)	(IRS Employer Identification No.)

2710 Camino del Sol, Oxnard, California	93030
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)	(Zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (805) 981-3650

(Former name or former address, if changed since last report.)

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:

Title of each class	Trading Symbol(s)	Name of each exchange on which registered
Common Stock, par value $0.001 per share	AVO	NASDAQ Global Select Market

Check the appropriate box below if the Form 8-K filing is intended to simultaneously satisfy the filing obligation of the registrant under any of the following provisions (see General Instruction A.2. below):

☐ Written communications pursuant to Rule 425 under the Securities Act (17 CFR 230.425)

☐ Soliciting material pursuant to Rule 14a-12 under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14a-12)

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 14d-2(b) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.14d-2(b))

☐ Pre-commencement communications pursuant to Rule 13e-4(c) under the Exchange Act (17 CFR 240.13e-4(c))

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant is an emerging growth company as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act of 1933 (§230.405 of this chapter) or Rule 12b-2 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (§240.12b-2 of this chapter).

Emerging growth company  ☒

If an emerging growth company, indicate by check mark if the registrant has elected not to use the extended transition period for complying with any new or revised financial accounting standards provided pursuant to Section 13(a) of the Exchange Act.  ☐

5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers; Compensatory Arrangements of Certain Officers

On December 14, 2021, the Board of Directors of Mission Produce, Inc. (the “Company”) appointed Shaunte Mears-Watkins to the Board of Directors as an independent Class II director with a term expiring at the Company’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders, effective immediately. In connection with this appointment, the Board of Directors also increased the size of the Board of Directors from eight to nine directors.

Ms. Mears-Watkins has served as the Chief Commercial Officer of Clif Bar & Company, a leading maker of energy and nutrition foods, since June 2021. Previously, Ms. Mears-Watkins held increasingly senior roles in marketing, sales, and strategy at The Clorox Company (NYSE: CLX), a global manufacturer and marketer of household goods, food, pet care, and commercial cleaning products, from 2005 to 2008 and again from 2009 to 2021. From 2008 to 2009, Ms. Mears-Watkins was a Global Category Manager at Bare Escentuals Beauty, Inc. (NASDAQ: BARE), a retail cosmetics and personal care company. Ms. Mears-Watkins has served as a director for the Alameda County Community Food Bank since November 2021.

Ms. Mears-Watkins received a Bachelor of Arts degree from Stanford University and a Master of Business Administration degree from Harvard Business School.

Ms. Mears-Watkins will receive compensation for her service on the Board of Directors consistent with the Company’s Non-Employee Director Compensation Program filed as Exhibit 10.4 to the Company’s Form S-1 filed on September 4, 2020. The Company also expects to enter into its standard indemnification agreement for directors with Ms. Mears-Watkins, the form of which was filed as Exhibit 10.7 to the Company’s Form S-1 filed on September 4, 2020.

Ms. Mears-Watkins was not selected as a director pursuant to any arrangements or understandings with the Company or with any other person, and there are no related party transactions between the Company and Ms. Mears-Watkins that would require disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

A copy of the press release announcing the appointment of Ms. Mears-Watkins to the Board of Directors is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and is incorporated herein by reference.

Item 9.01. Financial Statements and Exhibits

(d) Exhibits

Exhibit     No.	Description
Exhibit 99.1	Press release dated December 15, 2021
Exhibit 104	Cover Page Interactive Data File (embedded within the Inline XBRL document)

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

	MISSION PRODUCE, INC.
Date: December 15, 2021	/s/ Stephen J. Barnard
	Stephen J. Barnard
	President and Chief Executive Officer

EX-99.1

Exhibit 99.1

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Mission Produce Appoints Shaunte Mears-Watkins to Board of Directors

OXNARD, Calif. – Dec. 15, 2021 – Mission Produce, Inc. (NASDAQ: AVO) (“Mission” or the “Company”), the world leader in sourcing, producing, and distributing fresh Hass avocados, with additional offerings in mangos, today announces the appointment of Shaunte Mears-Watkins to its board of directors effective December 14, 2021. Ms. Mears-Watkins was appointed to the class of directors that will stand for election at the company’s 2022 Annual Meeting of Stockholders.

Shaunte Mears-Watkins is an accomplished global sales and marketing executive with over 20 years of experience. Ms. Mears-Watkins is known for her innovative strategic perspective and global P&L leadership in the consumer product and food industries. She currently serves as the Chief Commercial Officer at Clif Bar and Company, a double-digit growth manufacturer in the energy food and drink space. Before joining Clif Bar and Company in the summer of 2021, Ms. Mears-Watkins spent nearly 15 years at The Clorox Company in positions such as Vice President of Marketing, Specialty Division, and General Manager Clorox Australia, and New Zealand. Most recently, she held the position of Vice President of Strategy and Chief of Staff to the Office of the CEO. She holds a BA from Stanford University in economics and an MBA from Harvard Business School.

“We are excited to add such a strategic and innovative marketing and sales executive to our board of directors. Shaunte’s experience from a commercial and global perspective in the consumer product and food space is a complement to the other eight board members currently serving,” said Steve Barnard, Founder, and CEO, Mission Produce. “Her proficiency in driving growth with multiple brands such as Burts Bees, Kingsford, and Hidden Valley will be of value as we continue to build the Mission Produce brand globally,” added Barnard.

Steve Bershad, Chairman of the Board, said, “I am pleased Shaunte has joined our board of directors. Not only does she provide valuable perspective with public experience, but her caliber and breadth of experience enhance the board’s overall expertise. In addition, her appointment further bolsters the independence of the board of directors.”

About Mission Produce, Inc.:

Mission Produce is the global leader in the worldwide avocado business. Since 1983, Mission Produce has been sourcing, producing, and distributing fresh Hass avocados, and as of 2021, fresh mangos, to retail, wholesale, and foodservice customers in over 25 countries. The vertically integrated Company owns and operates four state-of-the-art packing facilities in key growing locations globally including California, Mexico & Peru, and has additional sourcing capabilities in Chile, Colombia, Dominican Republic, Guatemala, New Zealand, & South Africa, which allow the

company to provide a year-round supply of premium fruit. Mission’s global distribution network includes twelve forward distribution centers in North America, China & Europe that offer value-added services such as ripening, bagging, custom packing, and logistical management. In addition, Mission owns over 11,000 acres globally, allowing for diversified sourcing and access to complementary growing seasons, while ensuring its customers receive the highest quality fruit possible. For more information, please visit www.missionproduce.com.

###

Contacts:

Investor Relations Contact:

ICR

Jeff Sonnek

646-277-1263

jeff.sonnek@icrinc.com

Media:

Denise Junqueiro

Vice President of Marketing and Communications

Mission Produce, Inc.

press@missionproduce.com

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Document Type	8-K
Document Period End Date	Dec. 15, 2021
Entity Registrant Name	MISSION PRODUCE, INC.
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Entity File Number	001-39561
Entity Tax Identification Number	95-3847744
Entity Address, Address Line One	2710 Camino del Sol
Entity Address, City or Town	Oxnard
Entity Address, State or Province	CA
Entity Address, Postal Zip Code	93030
City Area Code	(805)
Local Phone Number	981-3650
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Trading Symbol	AVO
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