Member Article

Food industry veteran joins Troy Foods as non-executive director

Norman Soutar, former CEO of William Jackson Food Group, has been appointed as director of fast-growing Leeds-headquartered vegetable, salad and mayonnaise producer Troy Foods.

Dating back to 1921, Troy Foods is a fourth generation family business, now employing 400 people across its four Yorkshire sites. It supplies a selection of prepared vegetables for ready meals and retail packs in leading supermarkets. In recent years, the company has diversified into processing value added lines such as dressed salads including coleslaw, potato salads, pasta salads and dips as well as mayonnaise and dressings to retailers and food service groups.

With over 25 years’ experience in the food sector, Soutar further strengthens the Troy Foods board. During his career, he has held a number of senior positions including having been managing director of Hillsdown Moscow; Strathaird Salmon; and Baxter Foods Group. More recently, he was chief executive of Hessle-based family business William Jackson Food Group where he spent 14 years, more than tripling revenues during that time and overseeing a number of disposals and acquisitions.

With a long track record of working with family-owned businesses, Soutar will add strategic overview to Troy Foods, helping to shape the business going forward and provide a robust structure for continued growth. In addition to bringing a broad range of financial and management skills to Troy Foods, he will also act a mentor to the management team.

Soutar comments: “I have long known and admired Troy Foods, particularly for its entrepreneurial spirit, high quality products and strong customer focus. The company’s success is built on these solid foundations and it has huge potential for further growth. I am looking forward to working alongside the board to take the business forward, helping shape its strategic direction and using my extensive leadership experience to support the senior team.”

David Kempley, chairman of Troy Foods, adds: “Norman is a highly respected figure in the food industry and I am proud that he has chosen to join us and become Troy Foods’ first non-executive director. With his vast experience in the sector and more than 20 years of working with family businesses, he will bring immense value to the company as we focus on continued growth and further improving business performance going forward.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Emma Kilmurray .