Costcutter trading director Vicki Reay has left the symbol group after less than a year in the role.

Reay joined Costcutter in August last year from Spar where she was commercial director, and was previously at Aldi for 10 years, most recently as buying director. She was tasked with building strong relationships with The Buyco - the joint venture launched by Costcutter and Palmer & Harvey last year.

However, this week it was revealed Reay had decided to leave the business to spend more time with her young family.

She has been replaced by Huw Edwards, who has worked for The Buyco for two months and has been helping shape engagement plans with suppliers ahead of Costcutter’s switch from Nisa to P&H, which takes place on 4 July.

Edwards also worked at Makro when it set up a Buyco with P&H, as offer management director and was in senior roles at Asda for 15 years, including procurement director.

In a note to staff, Costcutter CEO Darcy Willson-Rymer said: “This is a very good solution for us, and is a testament to our strong partnership with P&H, working together to optimise The Buyco and our trading team. Not only is Huw an outstanding executive, but his time at The Buyco will help further cement the working relationships between Crawley and York, and in turn with our suppliers.”

On Reay’s departure, he added, in the note: “Martyn [Ward, MD of P&H] and I would like to thank Vicki for all she has given and achieved, and we ask you all to join us in wishing her every future success.”

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