Utz Brands exec to resign; 2026 outlook reaffirmed

Utz Brands, Inc. announced that Mitchell Arends, its EVP, Chief Integrated Supply Chain Officer and principal operating officer, intends to resign effective June 19, 2026 to take a role at another public company.

Rhea-AI Filing Summary

Utz Brands, Inc. announced that Mitchell Arends, its EVP, Chief Integrated Supply Chain Officer and principal operating officer, intends to resign effective June 19, 2026 to take a role at another public company. The company states his departure is not due to any disagreement over operations, policies, or practices.

Following his resignation, CEO Howard Friedman will also serve as principal operating officer, and the Executive Leadership Team will oversee Integrated Supply Chain functions. Utz Brands also reaffirmed its previously issued fiscal 2026 financial outlook that was communicated with its first-quarter 2026 results.

Insights

Equity analyst

Leadership change balanced by reaffirmed 2026 outlook.

Utz Brands is losing its EVP, Chief Integrated Supply Chain Officer and principal operating officer, Mitchell Arends, with his resignation effective on June 19, 2026. The company notes the move is to join another public company and not due to disagreements over operations or policies.

CEO Howard Friedman will assume the principal operating officer role, while the broader Executive Leadership Team takes on Integrated Supply Chain responsibilities. This keeps operational control concentrated in existing leadership and avoids introducing an external hire, at least initially.

Alongside the leadership change, Utz reaffirmed its previously communicated fiscal 2026 financial outlook. That indicates the company is not revising its expectations at this time and suggests management views current performance and plans as consistent with prior guidance, based on the information disclosed.

8-K Event Classification

2 items: 5.02, 7.01

2 items

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.

Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure Disclosure

Material non-public information disclosed under Regulation Fair Disclosure, often investor presentations or guidance.

Key Terms

principal operating officer, Integrated Supply Chain, Regulation FD Disclosure, financial outlook, +1 more

5 terms

principal operating officer financial

"Mitchell Arends, the EVP, Chief Integrated Supply Chain Officer and principal operating officer of Utz Brands, Inc."

Integrated Supply Chain financial

"Chief Integrated Supply Chain Officer and principal operating officer of Utz Brands, Inc."

Regulation FD Disclosure regulatory

"Item 7.01 Regulation FD Disclosure. On May 28, 2026, the Company reaffirmed its financial outlook"

Regulation FD disclosure requires public companies to share important, market-moving information with everyone at the same time instead of tipping off analysts or large investors first. Think of it as making sure all players on a field hear the same announcement simultaneously; that fairness helps investors trust that stock prices reflect the same information and reduces the risk of sudden, unfair trading advantages or regulatory penalties for selective leaks.

financial outlook financial

"the Company reaffirmed its financial outlook for fiscal year 2026 as previously stated"

forward-looking statements regulatory

"includes certain statements that are not historical facts but are “forward-looking statements”"

Forward-looking statements are predictions or plans that companies share about what they expect to happen in the future, like estimating sales or profits. They matter because they help investors understand a company's outlook, but since they are based on guesses and assumptions, they can sometimes be wrong.

FAQ

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

What executive change did Utz Brands (UTZ) announce on May 26, 2026?

Utz Brands announced that Mitchell Arends, its EVP, Chief Integrated Supply Chain Officer and principal operating officer, intends to resign effective June 19, 2026. He is leaving to assume a role at another publicly traded company, and the company states his departure is not due to any disagreement.

Who will take over operating responsibilities at Utz Brands (UTZ) after Mitchell Arends resigns?

After Mitchell Arends resigns effective June 19, 2026, CEO Howard Friedman will also serve as principal operating officer. In addition, Friedman and other members of the Executive Leadership Team will assume responsibility for Utz Brands’ Integrated Supply Chain functions, keeping leadership within the existing management team.

Did Utz Brands (UTZ) change its 2026 financial outlook in this update?

Utz Brands reaffirmed its financial outlook for fiscal year 2026. The company referenced the outlook previously communicated in its May 6, 2026 press release that accompanied first-quarter 2026 results, indicating it is maintaining those expectations rather than revising them in this communication.

Was Mitchell Arends’ resignation from Utz Brands (UTZ) due to any disagreement with the company?

The company states that Mitchell Arends’ resignation was not the result of any disagreement regarding Utz Brands’ operations, policies, or practices. Instead, he is leaving to take a role at another publicly traded company, according to the disclosure in the communication.

How did Utz Brands (UTZ) disclose its reaffirmed 2026 outlook under Regulation FD?

Utz Brands used a Regulation FD Disclosure to state it reaffirmed its fiscal 2026 financial outlook on May 28, 2026. The company noted this information is being furnished, not filed, under securities laws and refers back to its May 6, 2026 first-quarter press release for details.

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

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Accepted by SEC EDGAR 05/28/2026 - 03:59 PM Learn about SEC filing dates

0001739566FALSE00017395662026-05-262026-05-260001739566dei:FormerAddressMember2026-05-262026-05-26

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): May 26, 2026

Utz Brands, Inc.

(Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware

001-38686

85-2751850

(State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)

(Commission File Number)

(IRS Employer Identification No.)

900 High Street

Hanover, PA 17331

(Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

Registrant’s telephone number, including area code: (717) 637-6644

N/A

(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:

☐ 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))

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

Title of each class

Trading Symbol(s)

Name of each exchange on which registered

Class A Common Stock, par value $0.0001 per share

UTZ

New York Stock Exchange

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. ☐

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

Resignation of Principal Operating Officer

On May 26, 2026, Mitchell Arends, the EVP, Chief Integrated Supply Chain Officer and principal operating officer of Utz Brands, Inc. (the “Company”) informed the Company of his intention to resign from his position at the Company, effective June 19, 2026. Mr. Arends tendered his resignation to assume a role at another publicly traded company. Mr. Arends’ resignation was not a result of any disagreement on any matter relating to the Company’s operations, policies or practices.

Following the resignation, Howard Friedman, the Company’s Chief Executive Officer, will assume the additional role of principal operating officer of the Company. Additionally, Mr. Friedman and other members of the Company’s Executive Leadership Team will take responsibility for the Company’s Integrated Supply Chain functions.

Item 7.01    Regulation FD Disclosure.

On May 28, 2026, the Company reaffirmed its financial outlook for fiscal year 2026 as previously stated in its press release issued on May 6, 2026 in connection with the announcement of the Company’s results for the first quarter of 2026.

The information contained in this Item 7.01 is being furnished and shall not be deemed “filed” for purposes of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, nor shall it be incorporated by reference into any filing under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, except as shall be expressly set forth by specific reference in such filing.

Forward-Looking Statements

This Current Report on Form 8-K includes certain statements that are not historical facts but are “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the “safe harbor” provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, as amended. These forward-looking statements include future plans for the Company, including financial outlook for fiscal 2026. These statements are based on the current expectations of the Company’s management and are not predictions of actual performance. These statements are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties and the Company’s business and actual results may differ materially. Certain factors that could cause actual results to differ include, without limitation, the risks and uncertainties set forth in Part I, Item 1A “Risk Factors” in the Company’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 28, 2025 and in the other reports the Company files with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission from time to time. These forward-looking statements should not be relied upon as representing the Company’s assessments as of any date subsequent to the date of this communication. The Company cautions investors not to place undue reliance upon any forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date made. The Company does not undertake or accept any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements to reflect any change in its expectations or any change in events, conditions, or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as otherwise required by law.

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.

Utz Brands, Inc.

Dated: May 28, 2026

By: /s/ William J. Kelley Jr.

Name: William J. Kelley Jr.

Title: Executive Vice President, Chief Financial Officer

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