Chantler’s initial responsibility at the UK dairy firm will be implementing its strategy for growth. This will include looking at acquisitions, and the expansion and development of its production facility in Chester.
The site development will create an additional 5,300m2 of processing and storage facilities and up to 100 new jobs.
Chantler, the son of Meadow Foods’ executive chairman and joint-founder Simon Chantler, first joined the family business last year, after graduating from Newcastle University with a first class honours degree in economics. During his time at Meadow Foods he has spent time in each division of the business, working as a project manager.
‘Continual improvement’
Simon Chantler said: “I am extremely proud to welcome Mark on to the executive board; he has become an important member of the team at Meadow. As the next generation, Mark’s focus will be on the continual improvement and strategic development of the business.”
The company, founded in 1992 by Norman Oldmeadow, Simon Chantler and John Pickering, now employs more than 250 people and has a turnover of £400M. Sadly, Pickering died on December 6, aged 73.
Meadow Foods purchases milk from over 600 dairy farmers and operates from factories in Chester, Peterborough and Holme-on-Spalding Moor.