The SBU’s will be named ‘Grocery’, ‘Sweet Treats’ and ‘International’ and should enable a “tighter focus on capturing specific category opportunities in the UK market” while ensuring a more strategic approach to developing the firm’s brands internationally, Premier Foods claimed.
Each business will have full accountability for its own portfolio and for directing innovation, marketing, sales, manufacturing and logistics resources in support of agreed growth priorities.
Premier Foods ceo Gavin Darby said: “Given the major structural changes taking place in the UK grocery market, it is important we stay ahead of the game and re-focus our organisation on the most promising growth opportunities and delivering what our customers and consumers want.
‘Improve’
“By implementing a focussed and more accountable business unit structure, I believe we will improve our agility and rate of innovation.”
Premier Foods has made a number of new appointments to lead the new businesses.
Alex Whitehouse has been appointed as md of the ‘Grocery’ business; Graham Hunter takes on the role of md for ‘Sweet’ and Peter Ellis will head the ‘International’ business as general manager.
Whitehouse will bring “significant” marketing, innovation and strategic experience to the business, gained from almost two decades with Reckitt Benckiser, the firm claimed.
Hunter joins from Tangerine Confectionery, where he had been ceo for the past two years.
He has previously held management roles at Northern Foods, Fox’s Biscuits, Jacobs Bakery and Mars.
Ellis, who became director of international at Premier Foods in 2012, will expand his existing responsibilities for the firm’s international sales.
Prior to this role, he worked for the Campbell Soup Company for over 15 years, during which time the business was acquired by Premier Foods.
Darby said he was “delighted” with the new appointments.
‘Experienced leaders’
“They are experienced leaders with clear ideas on how we can grow the business,” he added. “Together with Ellis, I believe we have the right structure, leadership, experience and energy to build a stronger, more agile and less complex business and deliver shareholder value for the future.”
As a result of these changes, the previous position of commercial director, currently held by Ian Deste, will no longer exist.
During a transition period, Deste will focus on executing the remainder of the firm’s 2014 commercial plans and support the move to the new structure.
For industry comment on the management rejig, click here.