Bakery ingredients manufacturer British Bakels has appointed Hayley Calthorpe as managing director.

The appointment comes as part of a planned succession for former MD Paul Morrow, who sits on the executive board of directors for the Bakels Group and has now taken the role of chairman.

Calthorpe has over 22 years’ experience within the food manufacturing industry, having held roles at companies including Kerry, Dairy Crest, PepsiCo and Samworth Brothers. She joined British Bakels in September 2017 as general manager.

“I am delighted to have been given the opportunity to lead a strong, diverse team of passionate people and build on the success Bakels has achieved in being the leading supplier in the UK’s bakery ingredients market; all accomplished by providing industry-leading ingredients, backed up with first-class technical support for our customers,” said Calthorpe.

The appointment follows the opening of Bakels’ £10m distribution centre in Bicester, Oxfordshire which has a capacity of more than 10,000 pallets.