Woodstream Corp., one of Lititz’s best-known manufacturers, got a new leader in August 2016.
The company, which makes branded pest and animal control products as well as lawn and garden goods, announced on Aug. 10, 2016, that Miguel A. Nistal had joined as president and chief executive officer. He replaced Harry E. Whaley, who had led the company since 1989 and stayed on as a consultant.
Who is Miguel Nistal
Nistal, then 53, came to Woodstream from Swan Products LLC, a maker of irrigation and watering products. He had run that business since 2009 and served as its president and CEO since 2013. He also led the spin-off of Swan Products from Tekni-Plex Corp., where it had been a division formerly known as Colorite.
Under his leadership, according to the company, Swan achieved significant gains in sales and profits, improved manufacturing and inventory efficiency and expanded its e-commerce business.
Earlier, Nistal served as CEO of Keys Fitness and held senior roles at The Stanley Works. He began his career in marketing, product management and engineering at Thomson Consumer Electronics and General Electric. He holds bachelor’s degrees in biomedical engineering and electrical engineering and an MBA from Syracuse University.
Brands made famous in Lititz
Woodstream’s portfolio includes some of the most recognizable names on hardware store shelves: Victor mouse and rat traps, Terro liquid ant bait, Havahart live animal traps, Perky-Pet bird feeders, and Zareba and Fi-Shock electric fencing for animal containment. Its brands also include Safer, Sweeney’s and Mosquito Magnet.
The company sells through more than 100,000 retail locations and to professional pest control providers in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom and other markets.
Woodstream was acquired by private equity firm Vestar Capital Partners in mid-2015, about a year before the leadership change.
Investors’ view
“Miguel brings a proven track record of product innovation and operational management, as well as deep experience in branded consumer products,” said Kevin Mundt, managing director of Vestar and chairman of Woodstream’s board. “He also has demonstrated expertise in identifying and successfully integrating add-on acquisitions, which we view as an important expansion avenue for Woodstream.”
Nistal said he saw room to grow. “Woodstream boasts long standing relationships with blue chip retailers, and with new product introductions and increased merchandising support on the horizon, I believe the Company is poised for additional growth,” he said.
A 27-year run
Whaley, then 60, joined Woodstream in 1989 after serving as vice president of corporate development for its parent, Ekco Group. Before that he held positions at Centronics, Digital Equipment Corp. and Gillette.
Over his tenure, he built Woodstream from a roughly $50 million manufacturer focused mostly on sporting goods into a diverse $250 million branded consumer products company.
“I am honored to have led Woodstream for the last 27 years. I never intended to stay so long, but the excellent team of people we built and a rich field of opportunities led from one exciting initiative to another,” Whaley said. “With Miguel and Woodstream’s existing leadership team, along with Vestar’s support, I leave the Company in excellent hands.”
Mundt thanked Whaley for “his many years of service” and for helping ensure a smooth transition.
Why it matters for Lititz
The Victor mouse trap has been tied to Lititz for generations, and Woodstream remains one of the community’s notable employers. A change at the top of a company with that much local history drew attention well beyond the business pages.
A company with deep local roots
Lititz residents often point out that the Victor trap has been tied to the area for generations, and the company’s brands remain a familiar part of the local economy.
This story was originally published on LititzDailyNews.com in August 2016 and has been updated for our archive.