November senior appointments round-up
Food Manufacture rounds up some of the key senior appointments announced during November 2024.
People & Skills
RSPCA names interim CEO as search for permanent candidate continues
The RSPCA has named Shān Nicholas as its interim chief executive.
Hoxton Spirits CEO: ‘The difference between success and failure is perseverance’
In the Food Manufacture Podcast’s penultimate edition of 2024, hosts William Dodds and Bethan Grylls spoke to Gerry Calabrese, the founder and CEO of premium drinks brand Hoxton Spirits.
Papa John’s MD moves from pizza to doughnuts
UK scratch bakery Crosstown has secured former Papa John’s International managing director as its CEO.
Asda hires former CEO as executive chair
Supermarket chain Asda has announced the appointment of Allan Leighton as its executive chair.
Ex-Little Moons boss joins GrowUp Farms
The UK vertical farming business has appointed Mike Hedges as its chief executive, at the same time as his previous company, Little Moons, backs out of new site.
News
Tesco partners with Meat Business Women on gender balance
Tesco has partnered with Meat Business Women in a bid to accelerate gender balance and inclusion in the meat and wider food industry.
News
5 December food and drink job vacancies
On the hunt for a new role in the food and drink sector? Check out our monthly summary of the latest vacancies posted on FoodmanJobs.
News
New president elected at British Frozen Food Federation
The British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) has elected Karen McQuade as its new president.
Short read
The gender leadership gap
In the second of a special mini series focused on women, Food Manufacture hears from Browne Jacobson’s Amba Griffin-Booth on how the food and drink sector can cut down barriers prohibiting female career progression.
News
Hundreds gather at Westminster to pitch expansion of local food partnerships
More than 100 local food partnerships descended upon Westminster looking to convince the UK Government to support the establishment of funded and resourced food partnerships in every local authority, among several other asks.
News
Senior leadership reshuffle at Mars food and nutrition division
The Mars Food & Nutrition division has made two changes to its senior leadership structure.
News
Seafish appoints industry veterans to board
Seafood industry public body Seafish has appointed two new members to its board of directors, Sarah Holmyard and Georgina Wright.
News
KatKin invests in nutrition with quartet of science hires
Fresh cat food company KatKin has appointed four new members to its existing nutrition team to help boost its accumulated scientific knowledge.
News
Jobs saved as D&A Seafood rescued from administration
Grimsby-based D&A Seafood Solutions has been rescued from administration, saving the jobs of more than 30 members of staff at the business.
Long read
Bridging the manufacturing gender gap
In part one of a series of three articles focused on women in food and drink, Food Manufacture looks at the causes behind gender disparity in manufacturing, the sticking points that need work, and where progress has – and can – be made.
News
Food waste distributor announces three trustee appointments
The Bread and Butter Thing has bolstered its trustee board with the appointment of three new members.
News
Protests outside offices of Bakkavor shareholders as strike continues
Representatives from Unite the Union have taken part in protests outside the offices of the biggest shareholders in Bakkavor as strike action continues at one of its UK production plants.
News
Asda laying off 475 head office employees
Asda has confirmed that 475 employees at its head offices in Leeds and Leicester are being made redundant.
News
Professor Susan Jebb to serve as FSA chair until 2027
Professor Susan Jebb has been reappointed as the chair of the Food Standards Agency (FSA).
News
BrewDog names new chief retail officer
The brewery has appointed a new chief retail officer in a global role overseeing the business’s retail offering.
News
Zuber Issa steps down from Asda board after completing share sale
Zuber Issa has completed the sale of his 22.5% stake in Asda to TDR Capital for an undisclosed fee.
News
Oxford Farming Conference and MycoTechnology appointments
This week has seen the Oxford Farming Conference appoint three new board members and MycoTechnology unveil its new chairman.
News
Government investing £16m into manufacturing innovation project
Thousands more SME businesses will benefit from Made Smarter funding as UK Government commits to spending £16m to extend its technology adoption programme.
All in a day’s work
A day in the life of a drinks startup founder
The founder and director of Juno Bamboo Water Guillaume Poncet takes us behind the scenes and explains what its like running a startup in the drinks industry.
People on the move
October food and drink appointments round-up
October has been chocked full of senior appointments in the food and drink manufacturing industry. We track the people on the move in the past month in this round-up of senior hires in the sector.
News
Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney become Wrexham Lager co-owners
Hollywood actors Ryan Reynolds and Rob McElhenney have become co-owners of Wrexham Lager after purchasing a stake in the Welsh brewer.
News
Amazon grocery head announces departure
The global head of Amazon’s grocery business Tony Hoggett has announced that he is stepping down.
News
Bakkavor on the hunt for graduates and undergraduates
Fresh prepared foods manufacturer Bakkavor marks this year’s National Graduate Week (28 October – 1 November) with the announcement of 37 graduate and undergraduate placement roles across the UK.
Modern slavery victims settle £20k claim with UK Government
Migrant fishermen recognised as victims of modern slavery have secured £20k of compensation from the UK Government.
Food Manufacture Podcast
Hilltop Honey co-founder and owner: 'It’s either the honey or the bees'
In this month’s podcast, Hilltop Honey founder and owner Scott Davies takes us through the history of his company and how an unfortunate accident led to the creation of the UK’s second biggest honey business.
News
Macphie strengthens senior development team
Scottish ingredients firm Macphie has strengthened its team with the appointment of two new business development chefs.
News
Lidl to create 400 jobs with 10 store openings before Xmas
Lidl GB has announced that it will open 10 new stores before Christmas.
News
Brains CEO to step down after 11 years with brewer
The CEO of Brains Brewery has announced his decision to step down from the role at the end of December.
News
Damm appoints new MD of UK business
Spanish beer company Damm has appointed Luke White as the new managing director of its UK business.
News
New CEO at Typhoo as tea brand hires former Burts Snacks boss
Typhoo Tea has appointed Dave McNulty as its new CEO, replacing Andrew Reardon.
News
Asda announces two senior appointments as changes continue
UK retailer Asda has announced the appointment of two ‘senior leaders’ to bolster its executive team.
News
University of Surrey students fall short despite strong pitch at Ecotrophelia Europe final
Team BoozyBalls from the University of Surrey fell just short of a prize during the final of Ecotrophelia Europe 2024.
News
WKD and Shloer owner SHS Group appoints new CEO
WKD and Shloer owner SHS Group has announced former Asda vice president and commercial director Paul Gillow is to take over as chief executive, following the departure of Arthur Richmond.
News
Quorn names new CEO
Quorn Foods chief executive officer, Marco Bertacca, to hand the reins to former Heineken UK MD after five years at the helm.
Jobs
The latest food and drink industry vacancies
Ready to make a move in your food and drink industry career? We round-up the latest vacancies available on FoodmanJobs to help you on your job hunt.
News
Nestlé moves to 'leaner' board as new CEO reshuffles team
Food giant Nestlé has announced a series of changes to its executive board, in addition to publishing its Q3 financial results.
News
Leading Welsh food and drink conference set for Llandudno
The 2024 edition of the Blas Cymru / Taste Wales conference is set to take place on 24 October at Venue Cymru in Llandudno.
News
T Levels offer solution to engineering skills gap
A new qualification geared towards fast tacking students into the industry could plug the growing engineering skills gap in the food and drink manufacturing industry, according to The Gatsby Charitable Foundation.
Me and my team
Behind the scenes at the global home of Kerrygold butter
Sean McHugh takes Food Manufacture behind the scenes at Kerrygold Park, the Ornua-owned facility with the capacity to produce up to 1m retail packs of butter every day.
News
Scottish Wholesale Association appoints new vice president
Bidfood Scotland business unit director Jon Mack has been appointed vice president of the Scottish Wholesale Association (SWA).
News
Macphie appoints new chief financial officer
Food ingredients firm Macphie has appointed former Nestlé Switzerland and Canada financial leader Angela Willows as its new chief financial officer (CFO).
Short read
Am I eligible for the Business Leaders’ Forum?
Food Manufacture’s annual Business Leaders’ Forum has become a must-attend for food and drink industry experts – but as an invite-only event, how do you get on the guestlist?
Long read
Improving wellness on the factory shop floor
We know that mental health and wellbeing among factory workers is challenging – so what can the food manufacturing industry do to help, before it impacts productivity? Joshua Clark, estimator from landscaping contractor Gavin Jones, explores.
News
12 extra strike days announced as Tetley dispute continues
Trade union GMB has announced that workers at a Tetley Tea factory in County Durham will strike for an additional 12 days as part of a dispute over pay.