STOCK TITAN

Innovative Food names new CFO, revises equity pay

INNOVATIVE FOOD HOLDINGS INC (IVFH) amended executive employment terms and appointed a new chief financial officer.

(High)
(Neutral)
Form Type
8-K

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

INNOVATIVE FOOD HOLDINGS INC (IVFH) amended executive employment terms and appointed a new chief financial officer. On September 14, 2026, the company converted performance-based equity grants for Argie Liarakos (150,000 shares) and Gary Schubert (1,350,000 shares) into time-based restricted stock with accelerated vesting upon specified termination or change-of-control events. The company also entered into an employment agreement with Erik Saterbo, appointing him as Chief Financial Officer effective immediately, with cash compensation and a 150,000-share time-based equity grant subject to similar acceleration triggers and a term ending September 14, 2029.

Positive

  • None.

Negative

  • None.

Filing Explained

The filing adds a 150,000-share CFO award and changes two existing awards, but reports no completed issuance.

On September 14, 2026, the company replaced the performance conditions on the 150,000-share Liarakos grant and 1,350,000-share Schubert grant with time-based vesting; this is an amended award structure, not a reported issuance.

The company also appointed Erik Saterbo chief financial officer effective immediately and granted him a separate time-based award of 150,000 shares.

Saterbo’s agreement provides for a $225,000 annual salary, a 12% annual cash incentive, and employment through September 14, 2029, unless ended earlier under the agreement.

For all three awards, unvested shares accelerate upon a change of control, termination without cause, or resignation for good reason.

Issuing additional shares would increase the total share count and reduce existing holders’ percentage ownership absent offsets; because this filing reports grants and vesting terms rather than issuance, the disclosed effect is a contractual equity commitment whose dilution remains tied to later issuance.

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement Business
The company signed a significant contract such as a merger agreement, credit facility, or major partnership.
Item 5.02 Departure of Directors or Certain Officers; Election of Directors; Appointment of Certain Officers Governance
Key personnel changes including departures, elections, or appointments of directors and executive officers.
Liarakos time-based equity grant 150,000 shares Common stock under amended and restated employment agreement
Schubert time-based equity grant 1,350,000 shares Common stock under amended and restated employment agreement
CFO base salary $225,000 per year Annual base salary for CFO Erik Saterbo
CFO annual incentive 12% of base salary Target annual cash incentive opportunity for CFO
CFO equity grant 150,000 shares Time-based grant of common stock to CFO Erik Saterbo
CFO agreement term end date September 14, 2029 Expiration date of Saterbo employment agreement absent earlier termination
CFO age 41 years Age of Erik Saterbo at time of appointment
change of control financial
"with acceleration of unvested shares upon occurrence of either (a) change of control"
A change of control occurs when the ownership or management of a company shifts significantly, such as through a sale, merger, or acquisition, resulting in new leadership or ownership structure. This change can impact the company's direction and decision-making, which is important for investors because it may affect the company's stability, strategy, and future prospects.
good reason financial
"resignation by Mr. Schubert for good reason"
restricted common stock award agreement financial
"entered into a restricted common stock award agreement governing the terms"
termination for cause financial
"the written notice by the Company to Mr. Saterbo of a termination for cause"
Emerging growth company regulatory
"Emerging growth company Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b)"
An emerging growth company is a recently public or smaller public firm that qualifies for temporary, lighter regulatory and disclosure rules to reduce the cost and effort of being public. For investors, it means the company may provide less historical financial detail and face fewer reporting requirements than larger firms, so it can grow more quickly but also carries higher uncertainty—like buying a promising early-stage product with fewer user reviews.

FAQ

AI-generated questions and answers. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

What executive compensation changes did IVFH disclose on September 14, 2026?

IVFH replaced performance-based equity grants for Argie Liarakos (150,000 shares) and Gary Schubert (1,350,000 shares) with time-based restricted stock, featuring accelerated vesting upon change of control or certain termination events, all under amended and restated employment agreements.

Who was appointed as IVFH’s Chief Financial Officer and when?

IVFH appointed Erik Saterbo as Chief Financial Officer, effective September 14, 2026. His appointment is governed by a new employment agreement entered into the same day, and he has over 10 years of financial compliance experience in prior CFO and reporting roles.

What are the key compensation terms for IVFH CFO Erik Saterbo?

Under his agreement, Erik Saterbo receives a base salary of $225,000 per year, an annual cash incentive equal to 12% of base salary, and a time-based equity grant of 150,000 shares of common stock that can accelerate upon change of control or certain termination events.

How long does Erik Saterbo’s employment agreement with IVFH last?

Erik Saterbo’s employment with IVFH runs through September 14, 2029, unless earlier terminated under the agreement’s provisions or extended by mutual written agreement. The agreement also details termination scenarios including death, disability, termination with or without cause, and resignation with or without good reason.

Do the IVFH executive equity grants have accelerated vesting protections?

Yes. The time-based grants to Argie Liarakos, Gary Schubert, and Erik Saterbo include acceleration of unvested shares upon a change of control, termination by the company without cause, or resignation by the executive for good reason, as described in their respective agreements.

AI-generated analysis. How Rhea-AI works. Not financial advice.

See more from StockTitan in Google Search and AI answers. Adds StockTitan as a preferred source · opens Google
Add on Google
Learn about SEC filing dates
false 0000312257 0000312257 2026-09-14 2026-09-14 iso4217:USD xbrli:shares iso4217:USD xbrli:shares

 

 

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): September 14, 2026

 

Innovative Food Holdings, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

 

Florida   000-09376   20-1167761
(State or other jurisdiction
of incorporation)
  (Commission File Number)   (IRS Employer
Identification No.)

 

2528 S 27th Ave
Broadview, IL
  60155
(Address of principal executive offices)   (Zip Code)

 

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (239) 596-0204

 

Not Applicable

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

 

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. ☐

 

Securities registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act: None

 

 

 

 

 

 

Item 1.01 Entry into a Material Definitive Agreement.

 

On September 14, 2026, Innovative Food Holdings, Inc., a Florida corporation (the “Company”) entered into an amended and restated employment agreement (the “Liarakos Amendment”) with Argie Liarakos, pursuant to which the parties agreed to amend the employment agreement, dated January 6, 2026 (the “Liarakos Agreement”) with Mr. Liarakos, pursuant to which the parties agreed to replace the performance-based equity grant of 150,000 shares of common stock (the “Liarakos Grant”) under the Liarakos Agreement with a time-based Liarakos Grant vesting subject to the terms and conditions of the Liarakos Amendment, with acceleration of unvested shares upon occurrence of either (a) change of control, (b) termination of the employment by the Company without cause, or (c) resignation by Mr. Liarakos for good reason.

 

In connection with the Liarakos Amendment, the Company and Mr. Liarakos entered into a restricted common stock award agreement governing the terms and conditions of the Liarakos Grant.

 

On September 14, 2026, the Company entered into an amended and restated employment agreement (the “Schubert Amendment”) with Gary Schubert, pursuant to which the parties agreed to amend the employment agreement, dated October 3, 2025 (the “Schubert Agreement”) with Mr. Schubert, pursuant to which the parties agreed to replace the performance-based equity grant of 1,350,000 shares of common stock (the “Schubert Grant) under the Schubert Agreement with a time-based Schubert Grant vesting subject to the terms and conditions of the Schubert Amendment, with acceleration of unvested shares upon occurrence of either (a) change of control, (b) termination of the employment by the Company without cause, or (c) resignation by Mr. Schubert for good reason. 

 

In connection with the Schubert Amendment, the Company and Mr. Schubert entered into a restricted common stock award agreement governing the terms and conditions of the Schubert Grant.

 

On September 14, 2026, the Company entered into an employment agreement (the “Saterbo Agreement,” together with the Schubert Amendment and Liarakos Amendment as the “Employment Agreements”) with Erik Saterbo, pursuant to which Mr. Saterbo shall be appointed as the Chief Financial Officer of the Company, effective immediately.

 

Mr. Saterbo, age 41, has over 10 years of financial compliance experience. From March 2024 to July 2026 he served as the chief financial officer of Foot Solutions Holdings Corp. He served as the Chief Financial Officer of Triangle Renovations, LLC from March 2023 to February 2024. Mr. Saterbo served as the managing member at SES Fund, LLC between April 2020 and December 2022. From June 2017 to March 2020, Mr. Saterbo served as Director of Financial Reporting at Asbury Automotive Group (NYSE: ABG). Mr. Saterbo has a bachelors degree and masters in Accounting from Georgia Southern University and is a is a licensed Certified Public Accountant in the State of Georgia.

 

Pursuant to the Saterbo Agreement, Mr. Saterbo is entitled to (i) an annual base salary of $225,000, payable at least monthly and subject to annual review and potential increases by the Chief Executive Officer of the Company, the Board of Directors (the “Board”) or its compensation committee, (ii) an annual incentive of 12% of the base salary, payable in cash by March 15 of the year following the performance year, and (iii) a time-based equity grant of 150,000 shares of common stock (the “Saterbo Grant”) vesting based on the terms and conditions of the Saterbo Agreement, with acceleration of unvested shares upon occurrence of either (a) change of control, (b) termination of the employment by the Company without cause, or (c) resignation by Mr. Saterbo for good reason.

 

Mr. Saterbo’s employment with the Company shall terminate upon the first of the following: (i) September 14, 2029 (the “Expiration Date”), unless extended by mutual written agreement of the parties prior to the Expiration Date; (ii) death; (iii) the termination due to disability upon not less than 30-day prior written notice by the Company to Mr. Saterbo; (iv) the written notice by the Company to Mr. Saterbo of a termination for cause; (v) the not less than 30-day prior written notice by the Company to Mr. Saterbo of an involuntary termination without cause; (vi) the written notice by Mr. Saterbo to the Company of a resignation for good reason; and (vii) the not less than 30-day prior written notice by Mr. Saterbo to the Company of a resignation without good reason.

 

In connection with the Saterbo Agreement, the Company and Mr. Saterbo entered into a restricted common stock award agreement governing the terms and conditions of the Saterbo Grant.

 

There are no arrangements or understandings between the Company and Mr. Saterbo pursuant to which Mr. Saterbo was appointed and there is no family relationship between or among any director or executive officer of the Company or Mr. Saterbo. There are no transactions to which the Company is or was a participant and in which Mr. Saterbo has a material interest subject to disclosure under Item 404(a) of Regulation S-K.

 

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

 

The information set forth in Items 1.01 is incorporated by reference in this Item 5.02.

  

1

 

 

SIGNATURES

 

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.

 

  INNOVATIVE FOOD HOLDINGS, INC.
     
Dated: September 18, 2026 By: /s/ Gary Schubert
    Gary Schubert
    Chief Executive Officer

 

2

 

Filing Exhibits & Attachments

3 documents

Keep reading