Epsom-based bakery innovation company EPP has appointed Rob Pedlar to the newly-created role of after-sales contract manager.

Pedlar will be responsible for further developing EPP’s after-sales service support and maintenance programmes for the company’s customers.

An experienced food industry technical and project management specialist with 28 years’ service in the sector, including spells with Tetra Pak and McVitie’s, Pedlar spent six years advising UK food manufacturers on how to best develop and implement strategies in order to keep their equipment reliable, optimising the time they were in use and minimising unplanned downtime.

Pedlar said: “One of my main aims is to offer an advisory service to our bakery and food manufacturing customers on how they can keep their equipment reliable and performing at optimum levels. This will, of course, include maintenance training and emergency responses to breakdowns.”

EPP managing director Steve Merritt added: “Rob’s appointment is an important step in developing our business and further enhancing the support we provide to our customers.”