The Compleat Food Group has appointed Tom Riley as its new chief financial officer as the bakery manufacturer targets further growth.
Riley joined earlier this week from his previous role of CFO at Fox’s Burton’s Companies, where he had been responsible for the financial integration of Fox’s Biscuits and Burton’s into a single entity following its acquisition by the Ferrero confectionery group.
He also brings nearly a decade of experience working in professional services supporting large, privately owned and private equity backed organisations, prior to joining Burton’s Biscuit Company as head of financial services in 2013.
In his new role, Riley will be responsible for driving forward Compleat’s financial strategy as it strives to become the UK’s number one chilled prepared food company. Its current turnover is £700m, with a brand portfolio that includes Pork Farms, Wall’s Pastry, Squeaky Bean, Unearthed, Vadasz, and its most recent acquisition of vegan cheese makers Palace Culture.
“I’m passionate about being part of organisations that have a powerful business mission and real growth potential,” commented Riley. “With a clear vision, The Compleat Food Group stood out as a business that I wanted to be part of, and I am looking forward to being a part of the team as we look to fulfil these ambitions.”
Riley replaces outgoing CFO John Lane, who leaves after more than seven years with the business including when the group was created in 2021 through a merger between Addo Food Group and Winterbotham Darby. Wrights Food Group was added to the Compleat line-up later that year.
Compleat CEO Nick Field was the CFO at Burton’s Biscuits from 2014 to 2016, before being promoted to CEO there and serving as Riley’s boss for six years. “Tom’s wealth of financial experience and depth of food industry knowledge will be invaluable as we enter the next phase of The Compleat Food Group’s growth journey,” he said.
Chief procurement officer Brian Byrne is another Compleat colleague who worked under Field at Burton’s, transferring from the same role last June.
Compleat is owned by private equity firm PAI Partners and employs more than 3,500 people across 10 sites in England. It’s ambition to be No.1 in the chilled food category relates to business performance but also culture and ESG commitments – it had its targets towards achieving net zero by 2040 validated by the Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) last December.
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