Foodservice supplier Fresh Direct UK Ltd (FDUK) has announced a restructure of its management team and business, following the company’s growth since its 2005 acquisition of Caterfresh, and from other activities.
The core business of FDUK, as well as its subsidiaries Fresh Direct Local (FDL), Fresh Direct Academy (FDA) and specific teams such as Gourmet, will reside under an overall executive board, namely Fresh Direct Holdings (FDH).
As a result, several changes to the management structure of the company have been made, with immediate effect. John Harris, formerly chairman of FDUK, becomes chairman of FDH. Son Nigel Harris joins him on the FDH board, and moves from his post of managing director to become chief executive officer, with responsibility for making acquisitions under the Local brand, pursuing new opportunities and fulfilling the potential of initiatives already underway. Nigel’s brother Colin, who will also sit on the FDH board, becomes commercial director, looking after the company’s long-term strategy on distribution, IT and business systems.
David Burns, who joined FDUK via the Caterfresh acquisition, becomes managing director of the company. And Adam Isted, formerly trading director, will become sales director. All other functions continue as before.
For the Harris family, the developments have been a long time in the planning, said Nigel Harris. “We’ve taken the business from a £6 million turnover to £90m in 10 years, alongside a very strong and capable group of people who have helped us manage the company through its growth,” he told FPJ. “There are a lot of exciting opportunities out there for us to explore in the next 10 years, and this restructure positions people where they need to be to take Fresh Direct forward.
“We have built the business up for this to happen. To grow, you must be prepared to invest in your people, and give them the chance to develop, rather than allow one or two to cripple the business.”
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