Brigid Davidson

Brigid Davidson

Ex-head of buying at Iceland Foods has been appointed as trading director at Spar supplier and wholesaler A.F.Blakemore & Son.

Davidson will sit on both the trade partners and retail boards and replaces Mike Boardman, who took on the role of managing director for fellow Spar wholesaler Appleby Westward Group in November 2014.

Her responsibilities will include managing the relationships between symbol group Spar and the Blakemore supplier base, which covers the Midlands and Wales. With 30 years experience in the retail sector, Davidson said her number one objective in the role is “first-rate customer service”.

“That may be in the delivery of great products, prices, deals or just simply never letting our customers down on service and quality,” she said.

“Meeting A.F. Blakemore managing director, Peter Blakemore, along with Jerry Marwood and Geoff Hallam has given me the clear impression of a business with a strong family heritage where people come first.

“There is the 2020 blueprint in the business, so I already have a good idea where my priorities will be to drive the profit results required for a strong future.”

Blakemore managing director Jerry Marwood said: “I am delighted to welcome Brigid to A.F. Blakemore & Son.

“She joins us with an excellent track record across the sector and will be a key player in the delivery of our 2020 business objectives.

“The trading director role is pivotal to the commercial success of both Blakemore Trade Partners and Blakemore Retail and is integral to the company’s relationships with Spar UK and our supplier base.”

A.F. Blakemore & Son is a family-owned food and drink retail, wholesale and distribution business, based at Longacres Industrial Estate in Willenhall, West Midlands.