Wrights Food Group has appointed a new business development manager, bringing its team of food innovators to five.

Toby Patrick joins from Aryzta Food Solutions – formerly Delice de France – where he was a business development chef working across four national brands and new product development. Prior to that he was a sales manager for Brakes where he worked on developing new business and product innovation.

During his career, which includes catering management and a spell in the Territorial Army running a field kitchen in Basra, Iraq, Patrick has gained a broad range of experience, working with different ingredients and developing new ranges for the foodservice sector. 

The recruitment follows the appointment of business development chef Ian Jennings earlier this year – Patrick joins a team of four development chefs at the company’s Crewe headquarters.

Patrick said: “The brand stands for quality, which is so important when developing products for major UK brands. We can be working on up to 50 ideas for new products at any one time, so I’m looking forward to the challenge and opening doors for new business opportunities.” 

In July popstar Olly Murs paid Wrights Pies a visit in his home town of Stoke, and took to social media to praise the bakery.