Laurence Olins will hand over his role as group managing director of the Poupart Group to his cousin Adam Olins on January 1, 2007, and become executive chairman of the group.
The handover will be gradual over three to five years and Adam will retain his role as managing director of BerryWorld.
Commenting on these changes, David Gray of Argent Group Europe, Poupart’s parent company, said: “Laurence Olins has held his current position since 1987 and now wishes to change the emphasis of his career to allow him to also pursue business positions outside the Poupart Group.
“These already include roles both within other private produce companies and industry organisations. Laurence’s continued involvement with Poupart over the coming years will guarantee continuity of management, whilst ensuring the expertise gained from a career spanning 38 years in the industry is not lost to Poupart.”
Laurence is a paid consultant to two other family businesses in the fresh produce sector: Valley Grown Salads and Reynolds Catering Supplies. He is also on the board of the Eat in Colour campaign, and chairman of British Summer Fruits and the Winter Berries Campaign.
Adam Olins has been a director of Poupart since 1997, and has held his current position within BerryWorld since the company’s formation in 1994. He has guided the company from an initial turnover of £8 million to £100m in 2006, making it one of the most successful businesses in the industry.
“This is a gradual change,” Laurence told FPJ. “It is the start of a process that could go on for several years, but it will be directed by Adam. The most important thing is that there will be no loss of focus within BerryWorld.”
The Poupart Group consists of four trading divisions - BerryWorld, OrchardWorld, Poupart Citrus and Poupart Imports. Estimated turnover for 2006 will be £185m, with 90 per cent being supplied to the supermarket sector.
The business operates from offices in Hertfordshire, Essex, Kent and Spain, employing 100 people between them. All produce is packed and distributed either at source or at third- party facilities in the UK.
