Cherrytree Bakery, Henley Bridge and 200 Degrees are among the bakery businesses and suppliers to strengthen their teams with new appointments.
Two have promoted existing team members to become financial directors, while another has created a new sales arm to nurture small accounts.
Here, we take a closer look at the latest baking industry hires and promotions:
Cherrytree Bakery appoints financial director
Lancashire-based Cherrytree Bakery has appointed a financial director to further drive growth.
John Meadowcroft has been promoted from financial controller, having joined Cherrytree – which supplies muffins, traybakes and Chorley cakes to supermarkets and national coffee shop chains – almost five years ago. During this time, the business’ turnover has doubled.
Cherrytree now has plans to increase production and the promotion comes as the bakery is expands into a state-of-the-art facility following the acquisition of a 12,000 sq ft building next to its headquarters in Burnley, Lancashire. The increased capacity will allow Cherrytree to expand its traybake offer, meet additional demand, and strike deals in new markets.
“My new role will be more strategic,” Meadowcroft said. “Following the purchase of the building next door, which will add extra lines and shifts to the operation, I will also be part of a team looking at environmental issues such as carbon emissions.
“We will be reviewing our vehicles, making more of our waste as recyclable as possible, and increasing our use of solar energy.”
Meadowcroft is part of the senior management team led by founder and executive chair Gary Entwistle. The team also includes managing director Mark Beaumont, operations director Julie Page, and two non-executive directors.
“John’s impeccable work ethic and the information he provides will fully complement the future expansion of Cherrytree,” Beaumont added. “While we are still a family business we needed to review the organisational structure to make us fit for the future.”
Henley Bridge strengthens sales arm
Ingredients specialist Henley Bridge has created a new sales arm to its business dedicated to nurturing small accounts.
The new internal sales function is being led by company stalwarts – Kim Phillips and Jenny Lovegrove – who have a combined experience of over 20 years working at the distributor.
The duo will look after new and smaller accounts with an annual spend up to £10,000, providing help and support to ‘help them to nurture and grow’.
“This has never been done before so we’re really excited to be leading it,” said Lovegrove. “The key is to put customers to the forefront and tailor our support to their individual needs.”
Phillips added: “I’m really looking forward to this exciting new chapter in my career. I’ve worked here for 13 years, 10 of which have been in customer service, so that experience coupled with my product knowledge should help enormously in guiding and supporting our customers.”
Sleaford Quality Foods targets growth with innovation hire
Lincolnshire-based ingredients and blends supplier Sleaford Quality Foods is hoping to bring its growth plans to fruition after appointing Trevor Holmes as innovation manager.
Holmes will play a vital role in Sleaford’s plans to develop and expand its NPD capabilities in 2023 and beyond, the company said.
Prior to joining Sleaford, Holmes spent more than 26 years at Bakkavor where, as culinary innovation chef, he was responsible for product development across multiple categories into M&S.
“James [Arnold] as an MD is an engaging person to work alongside,” said Holmes. “The growth and development plans that he outlined to me were exciting and we’re now busy putting plans into place for the next four years to achieve our targets.
“There are huge opportunities for the company to add to its foodservice and manufacturing channels and to expand into the retail sector. It’s an exciting time to be working here.”
200 Degrees names first female director
East Midlands-based coffee roaster 200 Degrees Coffee has made its second senior promotion of 2023, with Nicki Jones becoming financial director.
Jones joined 200 Degrees last year as financial controller and now takes on the director position, replacing Stephen Fern who was recently promoted to managing director.
With 20 years’ experience in the financial industry, she will help to implement and oversee 200 Degrees’ growth strategy. Notably, she is the first female director at the company.
Both promotions follow a continued period of expansion for 200 Degrees and come as it prepares to open its 19th coffee shop, and eighth barista school, in Chester this spring.
“200 Degrees is an impressive company that I’m proud to be a part of and the teams across our head office and coffee shops are the best in the business,” Jones said. “Becoming financial director is an exciting step in my career and I look forward to taking on more responsibility and continuing to work with Steve to achieve our financial and community ambitions as a company and a team.”
Fern added that as the business continues on its growth journey, it was important to “strengthen the infrastructure and foundations of the business for now and the future”.
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