Ian Toal, the former CEO of Adams Foods, has joined 2 Sisters Food Group as divisional managing director for its added-value poultry, chilled and ready meals businesses.

He started on Monday (8 December).

In the newly created role, Toal will be in charge of 2 Sisters’  added-value poultry, chilled, food to go, meal solutions and ready to cook divisions, and report to 2 Sisters CEO Ranjit Singh. As yet, no decision has been made as to which of 2 Sisters’ sites he will ultimately be based at.

Until the end of September, he was CEO of Adams Foods, the UK division of the Irish Dairy Board, looking after its own-label Cheddar business (which counts Tesco as a major customer) and brands such as Pilgrims Choice and Mu.

Toal joined Adams in August 2011; in an interview with The Grocer in 2012, he described himself as “a change manager” who thrived on challenges.

On his appointment at 2 Sisters, Toal said today it was “a challenge that I couldn’t turn down.” The sector had become “intensely competitive,” he added, “and we have to ensure that 2 Sisters can differentiate itself from its competitors, relentlessly innovate and not just satisfy our customers – we have to delight them.”

 “There’s tremendous opportunity at 2 Sisters – we need to build our newest offering, Ready To Cook, as well as driving successful sales with Added Value Poultry and Meal Solutions and Food to Go. I’m incredibly excited about joining the team and helping to create excitement and passion for who we are and what we do.”

Toal’s arrival at 2 Sisters comes after the company recently appointed Steve Leadbeater as chief financial officer, April Preston as group innovation director, and Lochlain Feeley as food to go and bakery MD. Feeley will now be reporting into Toal.

At Adams Foods, Toal was replaced by Neil Kennedy, the former CEO of Milk Link, in September.

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