Laura Bounds has taken over as owner of Kent Crisps and Kentish Oils.
Kent-born Bounds, 31, is said to be one of the youngest female owners of a snack brand in the country. She has been commercial director of the two brands since 2014, a time during which the company grew by 52 per cent and won a number of awards.
She also drove a rebrand for Kent Crisps, and is promising further new product development, as well as new diversification and factory growth for Kentish Oils and a continued drive for new markets. She also plans further product extensions in the condiments range and a new selection of salad dressings and mayonnaise.
Bounds worked in fresh produce for eight years, starting out as a retail manager for a Kent-based wholesaler, before joining Kent Crisps and Kentish Oils after a management buyout by AMC Foods in 2014. She is also an ambassador for Kent food and drink, has been featured in Women in Business magazine and was a finalist at the Kent Food and Farming Entrepreneur of the Year contest aged 29.
She said:'My vision for the future is to forge new partnerships and products and fly the flag for rapeseed oil, which has tonnes of benefits including the lowest saturated fat content over any other oil. At the same time, I plan to enter four new export markets over the next 18 months for Kent Crisps, create a global brand and promote Kent as a destination for visitors.'
