Two leading figures from Asda's fresh food team have joined Morrisons, FPJ has learnt.

Former IPL commercial director Drew Kirk joins after a five-month stint as managing director of R&RW Bartlett since leaving the supermarket in January 2015. He takes up a category director role at Morrisons.

Kirk has been an IPL/Asda man for over a decade, starting out as a category manager for stonefruit and berries in 2004 before becoming category director and then technical director for fresh produce.

The fruit and vegetable industry veteran started out his career with roles at Elgro, Produce Marketing International and Exotic Farm Produce.

Another familiar face in the fresh food sector, Rick Bourne, has taken over as category director for bakery at Morrisons. Bourne was latterly category director for core chilled at Asda, and previously held the roles of category director for produce, and meat, poultry and fish.

Morrisons declined to comment on the appointments, which sources are interpreting as part of new chief executive David Potts' strategy to get Morrisons back on track after a difficult period of trading.

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