Potato supplier Branston has appointed a new general manager for its South West site in Ilminster, Somerset.
Jonathan Taylor joins Branston with a range of experience in the food sector, having performed operational and management roles at Kerry Foods, QV Foods, Brake Bros and Westaway Sausages across a period spanning over twenty years.
For the past four years Taylor has been the general manager of Westaway Sausages, which produces premium sausages for the retail and foodservice markets.
During his time at the manufacturer, Taylor helped grow the brand and develop a frozen range to run alongside the company’s fresh offering.
Reacting to his appointment at Branston, Taylor said: “I am really excited to join Branston.
“I hope that my background will allow me to offer insight and expertise to help the South West site to continue to develop and grow.”
As general manager of the South West site, which is centred on the production and packing of new and salad potatoes, Taylor will be responsible for the day-to-day operation of all aspects of the site, as well as short- and long-term planning, procurement, quality, and health and safety programmes.
Heading up the factory team of over 150, he will also oversee major capital expenditure projects, strategies to reduce waste and increase productivity, and will be responsible for staff welfare and motivation.
Ian Wait, who had previously been fulfilling the general manger role at the Branston South West site, has been promoted and joins the executive board as operations director.
In this new role Wait will take responsibility for overseeing the running of all three of Branston’s fresh potato packing factories and the prepared factory.
This will mean trying to ensure best practice is shared across the business in the sreas such as health and safety, quality, customer service, people development and productivity.
Wait will also look after capital expenditure plans and projects, ensuring that reinvestment remains a high priority at all sites.
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