Amylu Foods Names Food Industry Veteran Doug Bame Chief Operating Officer
October 19, 2026 | 2 min to read
CHICAGO — Amylu Foods, the brand that pioneered chicken sausage, has appointed Doug Bame as chief operating officer. Bame will oversee all operations, including manufacturing, supply chain, food safety and quality, across the company’s facilities in Chicago, Milwaukee and Los Angeles.
The appointment comes as Amylu Foods’ retail dollar sales have grown 107% year over year, and the company expects its retail footprint to expand nearly 50%, reaching approximately 130,000 points of distribution by the end of 2026.
“Doug is a proven leader of high-performing teams and food manufacturing networks, and his commitment to safety and quality makes him well suited to guide our next stage of growth,” said Steven Zoll, CEO of Amylu Foods. “With sales more than doubling and our distribution growing rapidly, we’re investing $125 million to expand capacity across our plants so our operations can scale just as quickly. Doug is the right person to position our operations for the growth ahead.”
Bame brings more than 30 years of food industry leadership experience spanning manufacturing, supply chain management and acquisition integration. He joins Amylu from Crown Bakeries, where he served as president and previously as chief operating officer, overseeing a nine-plant network.
Earlier in his career at Hormel Foods, Bame led the manufacturing integration of the Planters business and oversaw production for brands including Planters and Skippy. He also previously led operations at premium deli meat maker Columbus Craft Meats.
“Amylu pioneered chicken sausage and still leads the category, and the momentum behind the brand is remarkable,” Bame said. “My focus is on building the team and the capacity to keep pace with that demand, without ever losing sight of the care and attention to detail that make our products special. We’re growing so more people can enjoy Amylu.
About Amylu Foods
Amylu Foods is a female-founded, high-growth natural food company with more than a century of tradition rooted in fresh ingredients and handcrafted recipes. As a pioneer of chicken sausage, the company blends innovation with experience to bring bold, fresh flavors to consumers.
Founded in Chicago, Amylu has grown into a dedicated team of food enthusiasts, leading the category through creative recipes, small-batch production and continuous flavor innovation. Celebrating more than 100 years of culinary craftsmanship, the company is expanding its product offerings and nationwide distribution, introducing new products that continue to redefine the protein category.