Country Range Group MD Coral Rose is set to join rival buying group Fairway Foodservice as its CEO.
Rose will join Fairway on 1 September, replacing Chris Binge who has held the role of CEO since 2001.
Fairway Foodservice is made up of 20 wholesalers who recorded a collective turnover of £756m in 2021, and is expected to record more than the 2019 record turnover of £821m in the coming 12 months.
The group said there had been more than 200 applicants for the role but that the board had unanimously decided on Rose, who has almost 30 years’ experience in the foodservice sector. She is also a strong and high-profile advocate for the wholesale sector in general. She has served as chairman of the Federation of Wholesale Distributors since January 2020.
She joined CRG in 2010 as group marketing and projects manager, before becoming MD in 2013. Prior to that, she ran her own consultancy, Foodservice Marketing Solutions, and held senior marketing roles with companies including Premier Foods and Brakes.
“I have enjoyed my time as MD of the Country Range Group,” Rose told The Grocer. “The members have been great to work with. They have proved resilient throughout the turbulent last couple of years and the group has achieved continued success.
“I am leaving on good terms. I wanted a new challenge. I am delighted to be joining Fairway and helping the members to grow their businesses profitably. I understand the ethos of Fairway and I think I will be able to bring some different insights to the business to keep it progressing to be ready for the changes which we will inevitably have to contend with over the next few years.”
Binge said: “Coral is not just a ‘safe pair of hands’, having done a similar job in a similar organisation for almost 10 years. Coral has skills and knowledge which will be useful helping steer the Fairway members to continuing success and look for continuous improvement in the array of services Fairway can provide to members.
“Coral is incredibly knowledgeable about the foodservice industry and about the needs of end-user customers. She is professional in her work and is a strong character but also friendly and fair. I could not think of anyone better to lead Fairway for the next 10 years.”
The Grocer understands the search for Rose’s successor at CRG is now underway.
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