Vale of Mowbray appointments

Source: Vale of Mowbray

Ruth Dennison and Nathan Yates

North Yorkshire pie maker Vale of Mowbray has filled two newly created sales-focused roles to add to its team of more than 200 employees.

Nathan Yates, who has a background in FMCG, has joined the Leeming Bar-based business to drive non-retail sales including wholesale, foodservice, online and food to go, as well as the company’s internal van sales operation. With his career spanning the motor industry as well as food and beverage, Vale of Mowbray believes he is ideally placed to drive efficiencies in stock management and processes as well as focusing on new business.

Also joining the pie specialist is Ruth Dennison, who has been appointed as senior account manager. Dennison has been tasked with the commercial management of major customers, from agreeing launches and promotions to devising plans to drive sales and attract new consumers to the brand.

“These two appointments are brilliant news for us,” said Mark Gatenby, managing director of Vale of Mowbray. “Both Nathan and Ruth have enviable experience in the food and drink sector, and Ruth’s particular experience in short shelf-life produce means she can really hit the ground running in understanding operational as well as commercial needs.”

The new appointments come as Vale of Mowbray continues a recruitment drive to support growing demand. The brand recently secured a listing with Iceland for its BBQ Mini pork pies, with a number of variants due for launch in the coming weeks.

The business, which was established in 1795 and bakes over 1.5 million pies every week, has also taken steps to reduce the environmental impact of its operations. Last month the company announced it had installed a solar panel array on its factory roof as part of a drive to make its manufacturing process more sustainable. This followed previous environmental efforts including the introduction of greener packaging alternatives and a policy of ‘zero waste to landfill’.