Cooked poultry specialist Kookaburra has appointed Tony Gilroy as md of its Peterlee operation.
Gilroy, 43, joins the company after 11 years at the helm of the Challenger Foods (now part of the 2 Sisters Group) operation in Sunderland, where he was site director. Prior to this, he spent 16 years with Kerry Foods in Durham.
Kookaburra chairman Geoff Herbert said: “We are delighted to have someone with Tony’s massive manufacturing experience joining our team. I am very excited about what we are planning following up on our big forthcoming investment programme."
Kookaburra is planning to install new processing technology, which will include a new freezing system, a modern Provac waste handling system, and a new product development facility.
Gilroy said: “I want to position us to serve our business-to-business customers with innovative protein products of the highest quality that will add value to their brands and businesses. I will be encouraging our excellent management and manufacturing team to take us forward with a new culture of original and outside-the-box thinking.”
Founded in 1988, Kookaburra specialises in a wide range of plain, coated and marinated cooked poultry in whole portion, diced, sliced and shredded formats. Products are supplied to manufacturing, retail and foodservice customers, and are found in sandwiches, salads, pies, pizzas, soups and ready meals throughout the UK.