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Our Story & Our Team
For three decades, St. Louis Food Ingredients has helped food manufacturers solve complex sourcing challenges with one simple philosophy: relationships come first.
Founded in 1996 by industry veterans Jim Heinz and Jim Pietroburgo, SLFI was built on the belief that honest communication, dependable service, and trusted partnerships would always outperform transactional business. That philosophy became the foundation of our company and continues to guide every decision we make today.
What began as a regional ingredient brokerage in Kirkwood, Missouri has evolved into a diversified ingredient sourcing and supply chain partner serving customers throughout North America. While ingredient brokerage remains at the heart of our business, we've strategically expanded our capabilities to meet the changing needs of the marketplace.
Today, SLFI provides a comprehensive approach to ingredient sourcing through brokerage, global importing, domestic distribution, inventory management, and export solutions. Working alongside a carefully selected network of world-class growers, processors, and manufacturers, we supply many of the food industry's most widely used ingredients including cocoa, egg products, fruits and fruit preparations, dairy ingredients, flavors, vitamins, sweeteners, functional ingredients, and more.
As global supply chains have become more complex, we've continued to invest in the infrastructure our customers need to succeed. Our headquarters in O'Fallon, Illinois, combined with strategically located warehouse operations in Hazelwood, Missouri, enable us to manage inventory, support just-in-time delivery programs, and deliver dependable sourcing solutions throughout the United States, Canada, Mexico, and beyond.
Quality is at the center of everything we do. As a USDA Organic Certified company, we maintain rigorous quality, food safety, and supplier qualification standards across every ingredient we represent. Whether we're sourcing a full container of imported cocoa, a truckload of egg products, or a single pallet of specialty ingredients, every customer receives the same level of attention, accountability, and commitment to excellence. We believe quality should never depend on order size—it should be the standard.
The retirement of co-founder Jim Heinz in 2015 and Jim Pietroburgo in 2025 marked the close of an important chapter in our history, but not the end of their legacy. Their unwavering commitment to integrity, accountability, and customer relationships remains woven into the fabric of our company.
Today, under the leadership of President Mike Truran, our team of dedicated food industry professionals continues to build on that foundation while positioning SLFI for the future. As international trade expands and supply chains evolve, we remain focused on creating new opportunities for our customers through strategic global sourcing, reliable distribution, technical ingredient expertise, and responsive service.
Markets will continue to change. Supply chains will continue to evolve. New opportunities will continue to emerge.
Our commitment will not.
We remain dedicated to delivering exceptional ingredients, uncompromising quality, transparent communication, and long-term partnerships that create lasting value for every customer we serve.
Mike Truran
Owner & President
Mike joined SLFI as a minority owner in 2013 after starting his career in the grocery retail brokerage and private label industries. He has a B.S. in Business from Millikin University in Decatur, IL and an MBA from Webster University in St. Louis.
Mike took full ownership of SLFI in 2024 after a successful and long-term partnership with company founders Jim Pietroburgo and Jim Heinz.
In addition to his ownership role, Mike also supports the company sales efforts by managing key accounts, supplier relations and our growing distribution and warehousing programs.
Mike lives in O'Fallon, IL with his wife Emily, their two daughters and their Bernadoodle, Willow.
John Betten
Senior Sales Manager
John became part of the SLFI team in early 2021 after a career in the commercial insurance industry.
He has a B.A. in Administration and Management from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.
As a senior manager in the company John is responsible for Key Accounts and overall sales strategy and execution.
John has developed expertise in some of SLFI's longest standing categories including Asian sauces and seasonings, fruit juice concentrates, and vitamin blends and premixes.
John lives in O'Fallon, IL with his wife Caroline, their two boys, and the family dog, Lloyd.
Luke Stadts
Ingredients Sales Manager
Luke started with SLFI in Fall 2024. He was previously in a sales role within the food colors industry.
He has a Business degree from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale.
Luke is also responsible for Key Account management and executing on sales strategy.
He has developed a strong knowledge base of commodity ingredients including cocoa, eggs and oils.
Luke lives in O'Fallon, IL with his wife Natalie and their two dogs, Cash and Waylon.
Christine Leick Cord
Quality & Food Safety Manager
Christine joined the SLFI team in early 2026 to help elevate our food safety and quality programs along with our organic certification, documentation processes and inventory management.
She served in previous roles with Nestle Purina, Dupont Health & Nutrition as well as an educator at Mississippi State University and Garden City College in Kansas.
Christine has an M.S. in Meat Science from University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and a Ph.D. in Food Science from Mississippi State University.
Christin lives in O'Fallon, IL with her husband Travis and their three children.
Brittany Smith
Customer Service
Brittany has been with SLFI since 2016 and previously worked for a large Midwest dairy processor.
From order receipt to final confirmation, Brittany is in touch with our customers and suppliers through every step in the orders process.
She also supports our sales operations by managing inside sales as well as some of our longest standing accounts here in the St. Louis area.
Brittany lives in Columbia, IL with her wife Alicia and their daughter Sophia.
Jill Templeton
Customer Service
Jill started with SLFI in 2013 after working in the food colors industry for several years.
Jill plays a vital role in the customer experience for SLFI. She has managed and serviced many of our key accounts for the last decade.
She is also responsible for orders management and ensuring our customers are getting consistent and quality service, every time.
Jill is a familiar voice for those who call our office on a regular basis.
She lives in St. Louis, MO with her rescue pup, Spring.
Berni Macy
AP / AR
Berni has been with SLFI since 2017 after a career in banking administration.
Berni is responsible for our day to day accounts payables and receivables.
She is also responsible for
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Julie Tiemann
Finance & Operations Mgr.
Julie joined SLFI in 2026. She held previous roles in Finance, Procurement and Operations with Anheuser Busch and Ameren.
Her role at SLFI is to elevate the operational finance functions of our company while supporting continued growth of the business. She also works closely with our sales team to analyze inventory, domestic and international markets, pricing and supply chain trends.
Julie has a B.S. in Accounting and an M.S. in Accounting and Finance from Webster University in St. Louis, MO.
Julie lives in O'Fallon, IL with her husband Tyler and their two boys.
