Meadow Foods grows senior team with two appointments

Dairy processor and ingredients specialist Meadow Foods has expanded its senior team with two new appointments.

Gary Lambert has joined the Cheshire-based business as its new head of strategic operations, while Emma Stevens has joined as head of HR.

The appointments come less than a year after Meadow - the UK’s largest independent dairy business - secured investment from private equity group Exponent to drive expansion.

Lambert boasts a 30-year career in the manufacturing and engineering industries, and has worked in senior roles at Tangerine Confectionery and Cadbury Trebor Bassett.

Meadow Foods said his new role would involve consultation on all major capital projects and operations strategy developments, as well as mergers and acquisitions.

The processor acquired Wrexham-based dairy ingredient supplier Roil Foods in February 2018, and has expressed its appetite to grow the business “through both organic expansion and acquisitions”.

It added Lambert would also focus on increasing Meadow Foods’ production capacity, enabling the processor to launch new innovation, offer more variety and increase efficiency across its sites.

Stevens has joined the business from Wrexham-based Village Bakery, and has more than 10 years’ experience in HR. She would focus on increasing employee engagement across the business and evolving development opportunities, Meadow said.

“We’re delighted to welcome Emma and Gary to Meadow Foods,” said CEO Mark Chantler.

“We look forward to working with Emma on employee development strategies, and Gary’s appointment will be key as we continue to grow the business organically.”