- Mon-Fri : 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
- Shipping & Receiving: 20 Coffman Way Ayer MA 01432
Four decades of excellence don’t happen by accident. Get to know the dedicated leaders driving quality, innovation, and growth across our Ayer and Littleton facilities.
Laurent Dijon
General Manager of CPF, Inc
General Manager and Manufacturing & Supply Chain Executive with 25+ years of leadership experience across Beverage, Spirits, and CPG operations.
Proven record of P&L leadership, multi-plant and third-party manufacturing oversight, and enterprise-level operational performance improvement.
My leadership philosophy centers on safety-first culture, financial discipline, organizational capability building, and predictable execution in complex manufacturing environments.
My Linkedin link:
Kara Arpin
General Manager of Patriot Beverage LLC
Kara Arpin is an accomplished operations and manufacturing leader with extensive experience driving organizational performance, operational excellence, and supply chain transformation. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering, a Graduate Certificate in Plastics Engineering, and an MBA in International Business.
Prior to joining Patriot, Kara spent 18 years with a global plastics manufacturing company, where she advanced through a series of leadership roles with responsibilities spanning global manufacturing, U.S. operations, supply chain management, and operational excellence. Throughout her career, she has focused on developing scalable processes, improving efficiency, reducing costs, and enhancing customer service while building high-performing teams and fostering continuous improvement.
In addition to her professional leadership experience, Kara serves on the Engineering Advisory Board of a technical high school, where she provides industry insight and guidance to help strengthen engineering curriculum and support student success as they transition into their careers.
Kara joined Patriot as General Manager in December 2025, bringing her passion for operational excellence, organizational development, and customer-focused growth to the organization.
James Carhart
Plant Director for CPF, Inc.
James Carhart serves as the Plant Director at CPF, Inc. He brings extensive experience with more than 27 years of leadership to the location. His tenure began in 1999 in the Quality Control department, and he has held management roles in QC, Supply Chain, Operations, and Continuous Improvement.
James oversees all aspects of the 24/7 manufacturing operation producing millions of cases of beverages annually. He has a proven track record of driving operational excellence, improving productivity, fostering a culture of safety and food safety, as well as accountability. He is enthusiastic about employee development and is committed to building high-performance teams while creating an environment where innovation and collaboration thrive.
James has successfully implemented lean manufacturing practices, continuous improvement methodologies, and large-scale capital projects which have yielded improvements in safety, quality, operational efficiency, and cost performance. Throughout his career, he has successfully led workforce development, capacity expansion initiatives, and performance improvement programs. As Plant Director James is responsible for ensuring the facility consistently meets customer demand, while maintaining the highest standards of quality, regulatory compliance, and environmental stewardship. His leadership plays a critical role in supporting the company’s growth and delivering exceptional products to consumers.
James holds a BS in Finance and Operations Management from the Isenberg School of Management at the University of Massachusetts Amherst.
Francisco Rosa
Plant Director of Patriot Beverage LLC
Francisco Rosa is a senior FMCG supply chain and manufacturing executive with more than 30 years of leadership across global food, beverage, beauty, and consumer goods organizations. He has built a distinguished career transforming complex, high-volume manufacturing networks while strengthening governance, ESG-aligned manufacturing practices, operational risk management, supply chain resilience, and large-scale transformation leadership. He currently serves as Plant Director for Patriot Beverage-CPF, Inc., a major Pepsi Bottling North America co-manufacturer. Under his leadership, the Littleton facility earned the 2025 PBNA Caleb Bradham Quality Gold Award.
Francisco leadership spans major organizations including Campbell’s Pepperidge Farm, Coca-Cola North America, Coty, Unilever, and Nestle, consistently elevating safety, quality, OEE, and organizational capability. He holds a master’s degree in management and Productivity, a bachelor’s degree in electrical engineering, and executive education credentials from MIT Sloan, Michigan State, and Georgia Tech. He is also a certified ISO 22000:2018 Lead Auditor with deep expertise in food safety, compliance, and operational integrity. His additional credentials in supply chain management, leadership, TPM, and food safety further reflect his ability to build high-performing teams and drive sustainable operational excellence.
Domingo Rivera
Plant Manager of Patriot Beverage LLC
Domingo Rivera is an experienced manufacturing leader with over 30 years of experience in beverages manufacturing serving as Plant Manager for Patriot Beverages, LLC.
He oversees operations across multiple facilities with a focus on safety, quality, productivity, and continuous improvement.
Known for his hands-on leadership style, Domingo is committed to developing high-performing teams, improving operational efficiency, and driving sustainable business growth through operational excellence and employee development.
Jeffrey Gagner
Senior Quality Control Manager (CPF and Patriot)
Jeff Gagner is the Senior Quality Control Manager at CPF, where he oversees employee safety and product quality programs across the company’s operations. With more than 30 years of experience in the food and beverage industry, Jeff has built a career focused on quality assurance, food safety, operational excellence, and employee well-being.
Jeff began his quality career at Canada’s largest brewery, where he spent 16 years developing extensive expertise in quality systems and manufacturing operations. Following a family relocation to the United States, he joined a family-owned juice company in an operations role. After the company was acquired by Kraft Foods, Jeff returned to his passion for quality management, leading quality initiatives and continuous improvement efforts.
Several years later, the business was acquired by Sunny Delight, where Jeff assumed responsibility for both employee safety and product quality programs. His leadership helped strengthen the organization’s commitment to workplace safety, regulatory compliance, and product excellence.
In 2018, Jeff joined CPF and has since been responsible for leading the company’s safety and quality functions. He is dedicated to fostering a culture of continuous improvement, ensuring the highest standards of product quality, and maintaining a safe working environment for all employees.
Sandra Brown
Senior Human Resources Manager (CPF and Patriot)
Sandra Brown serves as Senior Human Resources Manager for CPF, Inc., bringing more than 30 years of human resources experience and leadership to the organization. Throughout her career, she has built a reputation for creating efficient, people-centered HR practices that support both business objectives and employee success.
Sandra’s expertise includes streamlining HR processes, coaching and developing leaders, and fostering strong workplace relationships that contribute to a positive and productive organizational culture. She is passionate about helping leaders navigate complex people matters while implementing practical solutions that enhance employee engagement, operational effectiveness, and organizational performance.
Known for her collaborative approach and strategic mindset, Sandra works closely with leadership teams to align human resources initiatives with organizational goals. Her commitment to continuous improvement, employee development, and building strong workplace partnerships has made her a trusted advisor and valued member of the CPF leadership team.
Sandra believes that organizations thrive when employees feel supported, respected, and empowered to do their best work, and she is dedicated to creating environments where both people and businesses can succeed.
We’re growing fast and always looking for skilled, driven people to join our award-winning team at both our Ayer and Littleton facilities.
CPF, Inc. is a leading beverage manufacturer and Pepsi Bottling Co-op member serving Greater New England, with plants in Ayer and Littleton, MA. With over 40 years in the business and multiple PepsiCo awards for quality and excellence, we produce and ship name brand products you trust.
