Brian Clarke, who has over 30 years of industrial and instore bakery experience including international consultancy work in Europe and Australia, is now heading up a consultancy: European Food Consultants.

He told British Baker: "I have developed expertise in technical, product innovation, process development and implementation of environmental policies and particularly in business turnaround."

He said he was instrumental in the acquisition of the three Harvestime Bakeries by overseas investors, turning around the business in administration from a significant loss to break-even in less than 12 weeks.

He added: "With experience working at director and board level in major plcs I’d like to think I can bring immediate results with no long-term commitment to recruitment for companies having to fill a gap in their senior management team short-term."

He said his service would be cost-effective for a struggling business, those with a particular skill shortage or those wanting to identify a business opportunity.