The past month has seen several senior hires by food and drink businesses, featured here in this photo gallery.
This month we cover Weetabix hiring a new chief engineer, the appointment of a new chief executive officer by Addo Food Group and Young’s Seafood’s appointment of a new head of technical.
We also cover appointment by the Institute of Food Science & Technology, meat-free producer The Meatless Farm Co and biscuit and cereal bar manufacturer Cerealto.
To find out about these appointments and more, click on the next image in this photo gallery of people on the move in the food and drink industry.
Meanwhile, a Scottish pâté producer has confirmed jobs are at risk following a difficult year of trading in a “changing and challenging” market.
Weetabix Food Company has appointed Parjit Singh Lally, former engineering manager at pharmaceutical company GSK to spearhead the business’ engineering strategy.
Recruited to fill the role of chief engineer, Lally has over 25 years of experience within engineering, working for five multinational organisations covering three continents and covering over 40 brands.
Reporting to group operations director Patrick Rigby, Lally will assume responsibility for the central engineering team. Weetabix stated that his key role would be to evolve the company strategy and ensure its delivery through his people and refined processes.
Commenting on his appointment, Lally said: “Weetabix is the first fast-moving consumer goods company that I’ve worked for and I’m really looking forward to working with such a great brand to help them set up their engineering platform for the future. I can’t wait to get stuck in.”
The company was a finalist in the Site Team of The Year, Training and Apprentice of the Year categories at the Food Manufacture Excellence Awards last year. To register your interest in entering the awards next year, click here.
Addo Food Group chief operating officer Deborah Bolton has been promoted to chief executive, replacing former boss Chris Peters.
Bolton had helped Addo grow from strength to strength and earned the respect and endorsement of her colleagues, clients and fellow board members, said the company. Her constant focus on the needs of the group had played a central role in driving significant improvements and increasing turnover, it added.
Commenting on her appointment, Bolton said: “It will be a huge privilege to lead the Addo Food Group, a business with great heritage across its brands and a bright future. Our focus will remain on being category leaders and serving our customers, suppliers, staff and stakeholders to continue to develop long-term growth.”
John Jukes has been appointed as head of technical for Young’s Seafood’s Humberstone Road facility, leading the site’s technical team in driving product safety, integrity and quality.
With 27 years' experience leading technical functions across food and drink manufacturing, John joined Young’s from Samworth Brothers where he was head of technical of their Walkers Deli and Sausage Co business in Leicester. Jukes also held technical roles in Icelandic Group (UK) Limited, and Coldwater Seafood (UK) Limited.
Chief executive Bill Showalter commended Jukes for expertise in the “specific technical and operational needs of seafood” and his appointment would “help develop this outstanding site and execute our long-term growth strategy.”
The Food and Drink Federation’s chief scientific officer Helen Munday has been revealed as the new president elect of the Institute of Food Science & Technology.
Munday brings a wealth of experience to the role, including 20 years spent with Mars Petcare in various roles including nutrition research, product development and innovation processes. She also held the position of director of scientific and regulatory affairs for Coca-Cola and worked as lead technologist in Agrifood at InnovateUK.
“It’s a huge privilege for me to take up this position,” said Munday. “Both traditional and innovative food and drink products play an important role in our modern lives.
“All too often the skills and the science and technology behind them, are taken for granted. During my tenure I will do my utmost to ensure our sector’s achievements, from academic research through to commercialisation, are widely recognised and valued.”
Former Kellogg’s snacks division boss Robert Woodall has joined British plant-based start-up The Meatless Farm Co as its chief executive.
As vice president and general manager for Europe, the Middle East and Asia for the snacks and breakfast cereal manufacturer. Woodall worked on global brands including Pringles, McVitie’s, and the Kellogg’s portfolio.
Woodall’s appointment followed the successful launch of the company’s meat-free range in Sainsbury’s stores in September last year.
Morten Toft Bech, founder of The Meatless Farm Co, said: “It’s fantastic news that Rob is joining the Meatless farmers. It is such an important time in the company’s evolution. Rob will bring a wealth of experience and knowledge to the company and help drive the growth of The Meatless Farm Co.”
Cerealto Siro Foods has appointed Jason England as UK managing director, in the wake of its creation following the merger of Grupo Siro and Cerealto.
England has previously held executive positions at Sharpak (part of Group Guillin) and Bakkavor and also performed various roles in the operations departments of companies, including Northern Foods, Heinz and Northumbrian Fine Foods.
Cerealto Siro Foods makes biscuits, cereal bars and rice cakes on behalf of national and multinational brand owners from a 27,871m2 facility in Worksop, which was built by Cerealto in 2015. The site employs 300 people.
The merger to create the global company was announced on 16 November 2018. At the time, the business said it would close the 2018 financial year with an estimated consolidated turnover of €600m (£532.5m) and production capacity of 400,000t.
Supply chain and logistics consultancy SCALA has strengthened its senior team with the appointment of a new associate director.
Oliver Cofler joins Scala from Alliance Healthcare, where he was he was responsible for all aspects of operations across the UK. Prior to this, Oliver led supply chain and logistics operations across the UK and Europe for a number of high-profile businesses, including Price Waterhouse Cooper, Cadbury, Kraft and Mondelēz.
Commenting on Cofler’s appointment, managing director John Perry said: “Not only does Oliver bring exceptional supply chain experience and expertise, he is also equipped with the knowledge to understand the issues currently facing major corporations and how best to address them.”
Poultry producer Kelly Turkeys has appointed Hayley Shadwell to the new position of production manager, as it expands its range by entering the growing charcuterie market.
Shadwell has 20 years’ experience with the Somerset ready meals producer Oscar Mayer, where she worked as manager of their factory, supplying produce to Sainsbury’s. At Sainsbury’s request, she went on to build a new satellite factory to produce a small niche range of ready meals that contained Class 1 Allergens – with a time limit of 18 weeks from concept to launch.
Paul Kelly, managing director of Kelly Turkeys, explained the decision.
“British charcuterie is in growth and it’s a category where our premium KellyBronze brand fits well,” he said. “With our breeding stock, we have the perfect supply of raw material. We have the facilities and the brand.
“The only building block needed was someone to head up production of these new lines within the business and, with her extensive experience, Hayley is ideally suited to this role.”
