Mike Taylor, director of Flamingo Holdings and best known as the man whose face represented Marks & Spencer’s fresh produce and food divisions for more than 30 years, died this morning, aged 69.
Mike, who spent 35 years working across all aspects of the M&S food business, left in the late 1990s having spent his last years with the retailer as divisional director of produce and protein.
Steeped in produce, he was nevertheless involved in a variety of different roles at M&S. He headed up the international food business of M&S in the early 1980s and also spent time in the US, running the King’s supermarket operation bought by M&S in the latter part of that decade. He was also instrumental in the development of the chain’s meat department.
Dicky Evans, ceo of Flamingo Holdings, led the tributes: “Having worked closely with Mike for the last 25 years, initially across a table when he was at M&S and subsequently from the same side of the trenches when he became Flamingo chairman in the late ‘90s, I do not know of anybody in the fresh produce sector who commanded such respect as this man amongst men.
“He made staff and employees at all levels better people and treated suppliers with total respect where it was earned, and during his tenure at M&S this approach ensured the company was highly respected by suppliers throughout the five continents of the world.
“He was a living legend and staff in Flamingo at all levels and especially in Kenya came away from meeting Mike when he pressed the flesh with a glow of pride imbued by the man himself.
“This is a very sad day for all who knew him and he leaves a legacy we can all learn from and that is one of humility, humour and integrity. We shall miss him tremendously and we have all lost a true friend. Martin Hudson and I personally will struggle to come to terms with the fact that the enjoyment of his company will never be there again.”
Dominic Morrey, the current M&S commercial director, fresh produce, said on behalf of the retailer: “Mike was one of the pioneers of our produce business,” he said. “He played a huge role in the development of our food and international business and will be remembered by many of us for his leadership, humanity and his sense of humour. He taught many of us the values of the business that we use today."
Morrey added that Taylor was “a fantastic ambassador for the M&S produce business”, respected around the world by growers and producers, and was a large part of the process that “made the M&S produce business what it is today”.
Dougie Kemp, who also worked closely with Taylor, firstly as a supplier of soft-fruit through Kentish Garden, and latterly as a friend and colleague in organising the Kent Cherry Show, said: "For me personally, he made a terrific contribution to the development of my soft-fruit business. M&S and, in particular Mike, were at the forefront of new developments in bringing berries to the high street.
"He had a very special feature in his total commitment to the fresh produce industry, although he was of course the head of all foods for a time, and he was also totally committed to the UK industry.
"We are all indebted to Mike for his contribution to the industry and I will miss him terribly."
Since leaving M&S, Taylor was also chairman of Redbridge Holdings from 1999-2006. Total Produce executive chairman Denis Punter said: “Mike was an inspiration, a unique character, and definitely one of the best retailers we’ve seen in the last 50 years. When he was chairman of Redbridge, he was a tremendous asset, and with the rest of the industry, we will miss him terribly.”
Mike leaves his wife Jill, daughters Samantha and Rebecca and son Michael Jr.
