SONAE/Sparkfood

SONAE, one of the biggest companies in Portugal.

Their Sparkfoods initiative is focused on creating social & economical value in the healthy & sustainable (inc. plant based) food sector in Europe. They are looking to acquire, invest or partner with startups, small and medium companies, to build a strong European Platform

Owns Gosh! Food in the UK.

Consultant ・ 2023 - Present

• Providing investment analysis (acquisitions) and value creation strategy consulting.

Walkers Chocolates/Pure Heavenly Chocolates

£25m t/o CONFECTIONERY GROUP. EBITDA £300k. Single site, 150 employees. Branded (Walkers, Pure Heavenly & Ashleys), retail label and contract manufacture for global brands.

Managing Director ・ 2021 - 2022

• Developed & agreed a new strategy for investment led growth at EBITDA level.
• Recruited new senior leadership team.
• Improved operational effectiveness and efficiencies from Ave 60% to 82%.
• Resolved major accounting flaws, improved cash flows and financial controls.
• Increased sales to major multiple retailers through contract wins.
• Concluded 3 major contract manufacture agreements with global brand.
• Successfully acquired and integrated D2C brand Pure Heavenly Chocolates.
• Pure Heavenly Chocolates identified as one of the top 20 fastest growing D2C brands in 2022 by Relo.
• Relaunched Ashleys and Walkers making significant retail distribution gains.
• Implemented the first successful CPI for years and repeated 5 months later.

Various FMCG companies

Consultant ・ 2019 - 2021

• Market entry planning. Overseas cereal/protein bar manufacturer.
• Key business risk identification, strategic option selection. UK dairy company.
• Strategic option evaluation. Overseas condiment business.
• Business/brand development. UK organic plant-based nutrition business.
• Market & brand extension, brand positioning. European beer brewer.

Grace Foods

£80m t/o food & drink group, £1.9m PBT, 2 sites & 198 employees. Encona Sauce, Nurishment, Grace and Dunn’s River brands. Grace Foods Ltd, Funnybones Foodservice Ltd, Chadha Ltd, B2B & e-com D2C.

Managing Director/CEO ・ 2018 - 2019

• Improved business with Mults (+4% YOY) and foodservice customers (+8% YOY).
• Awarded Highest Growth International Business in 2018 and H1 2019.
• Improved service levels to >98%, leading supplier tables with Major Mults.
• Relaunched Nurishment and Encona brands.
• Built cross category partnership with Tesco & Sainsbury, launching “Irie Eats”.
• Focussed Funnybones on major chains, wholesalers, universities & brands.
• Restructured the senior and commercial teams, promoting and recruiting.
• Member of International Management Group developing and B2B & D2C e-commerce strategies and plans.

Joii Sushi

£30m t/o added value sushi/seafood company. £1.5m EBITDA, 4 sites (UK/EU) & 30 staff.

• Operations situated in UK, Scandinavia, Germany and France.
• Created the strategy and implemented a 5-yr plan in UK and Europe, with budget set at £33m sales & EBITDA at £1.5m.

Managing Director ・ 2015 - 2018

• Increased turnover from £7.8m to £21m and EBITDA from £108k to £741k at the end of FY 15 to Oct 2017.
• Developed strategic partnerships with high-profile customers such as Yo!, Itsu, Wagamama & The Ivy Group.
• Established unique, patented, fully integrated supply chain for “Raw Ready to Eat” fish in UK & Europe.
• Introduced Sushi Daily in Waitrose and Sainsburys, developed M&S sushi concessions with Wasabi.
• Built management team, developing existing employees and recruiting skilled senior functional leaders.
• Recognised in 2018 by the FT 1000 as one of Europe’s top 50 fastest growing companies.
• Joii’s success led to attraction of external investment and eventual sale of shareholder businesses.

Raisio Plc.

£65m t/o portfolio of Honey Monster Foods, Halo Foods and Dormen Snacks. 4 manufacturing sites, 600+ employees.

Managing Director, Cereals And Snacks ・ 2013 - 2014

• Turned-around manufacturing, boosting overall service level from 75% to +95% OTIF across all sites.
• Agreed customer JBPs, initiating regular director level insights briefings and in-depth strategic client reviews.
• Relaunched Harvest Cheweee and Honey Monster brands, securing YOY growth for 1st time in 3 years.
• Promoted brand excellence, with Harvest Cheweee awarded Kids Snack Product of the Year 2014.
• Increased sales from £3.5m to £5m+ per month, forecasted to grow to £6.5m per month by end of FY.
• Improved EBIT from a monthly loss of c.£500k, with forecast of £4m by end of FY on sales of £65m+.

EARLY CAREER DETAILS:

Mizkan Europe

Managing Director/COO ・ 2004 - 2010

Entenmanns/Hibernia Brands

Managing Director of Europe ・ 1999 - 2003

Sun Valley/Cargill Plc.

Sales & Marketing Director ・ 1997 - 1999

Dutch Meat Board

Managing Director ・ 1991 - 1997

Burton’s Biscuits/ABF Plc.

Business Development Manager ・ 1986 - 1991

Tesco

Marketing Manager ・ 1985 - 1986