“Sir Bobby Charlton taught me how to take a penalty when I attended his soccer school”
Describe yourself in three words:
Honest, dedicated and trustworthy.
What’s your biggest professional achievement?
Working on the Kellogg’s ‘Breakfast for better days’ project, providing schools and nurseries with breakfast, and also working with their food bank partners on initiatives to help families living in poverty.
How did you get to where you are today?
Hard work and dedication.
What does a typical day look like for you?
At the start of each day I conduct a tour of the warehouse to check on operations and the progress of orders. Then we have an operational team meeting to review our forecasted plan, amending if necessary to ensure all orders are packed, picked, loaded and dispatched on time and staff are fully briefed. After this, no day is the same as there are always different challenges and activities to be progressed with the team throughout the day. Mid afternoons we forecast the operational activities for the following day and brief all concerned.
What have been the highlights of your company’s history, in your opinion?
It’s incredible that our company founder at EHL set up the business from her own home 22 years ago and has built it into the company is it today.
What is your pet hate?
Laziness.
Give us a positive prediction for the food industry over the next 12 months.
It’s a positive outlook for the food industry and I think healthy options, free-from and organic foods will continue to grow in popularity, with a focus on foodservice outlets offering these alternatives.
What do you consider to be the most important attributes for a leader?
Vision, openness and fairness.
Who do you most admire?
My Grandma. She is 94, has seen the world change so much and is a real inspiration.
Which people/organisations or companies are the ones to watch right now?
The prime minister and the government – there are decisions being made that will really affect the food industry, especially with prices of raw materials and the cost of goods. We need to see this as a positive opportunity to open up trade with companies outside of the EU.
Which words do you most overuse?
Really.
If you weren’t in your current position, what else might you be doing?
I’d like to complete my football coaching badges and work to develop youth football in my area.
Tell us something about yourself that few people know.
Sir Bobby Charlton taught me how to take a penalty when I attended his soccer school.
Any vices?
My wife would say my need for barbequing throughout the summer months, regardless of the weather.
What single thing would most improve the quality of your life?
Spending more time with my family.
How do you relax?
I’m married with three children and we’re all active within our local football club. I coach, as does my eldest, my two teenage sons play football and my wife mans the refreshment stand on match days – it’s great for bonding, good fun for all the family and a great way to relax together.
How would you like to be remembered?
Positively.
