Premier Foods chairman David Kappler has resigned after six years at the helm, and is reportedly planning to step down at the firm’s next annual meeting in the spring.

His announcement comes just weeks after Britain’s biggest food producer announced that full-year pre-tax profits would be at the lower end of expectations.
Despite strong sales of brands such as the relaunched Hovis and Loyd Grossman cooking sauces, the firm’s expected trading profits of £320 million (£362m) disappointed the City, and sent shares down 8% at one stage.

“On behalf of the board, I would like to thank David for his significant contribution to the group, says Premier Foods CEO Robert Schofield, who now faces growing speculation that he too could be under pressure to leave.“His guidance and counsel over the years have been instrumental in the delivery of our strategy since flotation.