no change 1Robert Schofield Chief executive Premier Foods
Since joining in 2001, Schofield has transformed Premier Foods from a sleeping giant into a £2.7bn-sales food and drink leviathan.
see right???
New entry 2Salman Amin President Pepsico Uk and Ireland
Amin had a tough act to follow after replacing the charismatic Martin Glenn as president of the highly successful UK and Ireland arm of PepsiCo, but while he may not have the high profile of his predecessor he certainly has the credentials. He joined PepsiCo in 1995 from P&G and has brought a wealth of knowledge of the fmcg world to the role. He is also chairman of the FDF's vital health and wellbeing steering group and will play a pivotal role in the federation's plans to counter the pressure on the industry from government and lobby groups.
New entry 3Jonathan Warburton Chairman Warburtons
The ebullient fifth-generation Warburton has been instrumental in turning the family-run company into a national big hitter. In the six years under Warburton's leadership the Bolton-based baker has extended its healthy options, completed a national rollout of the brand and established itself as not only the leader in the bread category but also the second-biggest food brand in the UK (after Coca-Cola). Warburton has also raised his own profile through a TV campaign encouraging the public to contact him directly.
New entry 4George Weston CEO Associated British Foods
A graduate of New College, Oxford, fresh-faced Weston heads up the UK's largest food company, with global food sales topping £2.7bn. The company added to its already impressive list of brands, which includes Kingsmill, Blue Dragon, and Twinings, with the purchase of Indian specialist brand Patak's last month. The 43-year-old has been a member of the ABF board since 1999 and took up his current appointment in April 2005.
New entry 5Martin Glenn CEO Birds Eye Iglo
The former PepsiCo UK president made his high-profile return to the food industry, after a 12-month break, by taking the helm of Birds Eye following its purchase from Unilever by Permira. The move may have been unexpected but Glenn's actions since taking over are typically characteristic of the tough-talking boss. One of his first pledges when he joined the company was to reinforce its commitment to sustainable fishing. Not afraid to make tough decisions, he has also closed a loss-making plant in Hull. And he will also use his impressive marketing background to boost the image of the frozen foods category and bring his NPD skills to the fore.
New entry 6Mark Allen chief executive Dairy Crest
Allen has been the innovation man at Dairy Crest and has turned his attention to adding much-needed value to the dairy sector, such as the extension of its Country Life butter brand into cheese and milk. He has played a key role in developing and growing the company's Cathedral City brand, including its Lighter Cheddar variant, the result of two years development, which is challenging the perceptions of cheese as an unhealthy, high- fat product. More innovation is expected from the company in the next 12 months.
New entry 7John Dunsmore MD Western Europe Scottish & Newcastle
Having begun his career as a graduate trainee at the brewer, Dunsmore left to work in the City only to return in 1996. He joined the board in 2002 and in a recent reshuffle moved from chairman and MD of S&N UK to his new position, which some take as a sign he is being groomed to replace CEO Tony Froggatt. Dunsmore remains one of the drink's industry's most influential names and has turned S&N, whose portfolio includes Kronenbourg, Foster's, John Smith's and San Miguel, into a company highly sought after by its bigger rivals. S&N is also successfully challenging C&C Group's Magners brand with a high profile rollout of Bulmers, while innovation of the Foster's brand, and another cider called Jacques, proves that innovation is still a strong suit. ry
last year: 3 8Tony Smith Sales Director Unilever UK
Smith's stint at Unilever reached the quarter-century mark this year and he is still going strong. In charge of sales and marketing for 28 of the UK's leading brands, including Flora, Lynx and Marmite, he has kept the company on top of the health trend with the reformulations of Pot Noodle and Peperami late last year and the healthy positioning of PG Tips. It has been a quiet start to 2007 but with the consolidation of Unilever's three boards into a single unit at a new HQ in Leatherhead in the next 18 months, Smith and Unilever will be better placed to counter the recent strength of P&G.ey entry
last year: 10 9Wynne Griffiths Chief executive Young's Bluecrest
The future of the UK frozen food industry is finally starting to look more positive as the sector experiences a turnaround in its fortunes, but whatever happens, as head of the UK's largest processor of seafood in the UK, worth £200m, Griffiths is well set. With the popularity of seafood soaring, Youngs has a strong and growing chilled and fresh fish offer, and an excellent record on sustainability also stands it in great stead.
last year: 7 10Richard Reed Co-founder Innocent
No list is complete without Innocent, the darling of the grocery business. Everyone either wants to buy Innocent, be like it or do business with it (including McDonald's), and sales continue to grow exponentially. With Reed and chums refusing to sell, the industry remains on tenterhooks.
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