PepsiCo UK has promoted its VP of manufacturing, David Murray, to general manager of its Quaker and Tropicana businesses.
Murray will take charge of the two brands as the company begins a 10-year global revenue drive to treble sales from healthier brands, including Quaker and Tropicana.
He replaces David Johnston, who left the business to become CEO of Groupe Aeroplan-Europe in January, and will report to PepsiCo UK and Ireland president Richard Evans.
Evans said the two brands were integral to the group's healthier focus.
"David possesses outstanding leadership skills, commercial acumen and cross-functional knowledge. He is well positioned to drive forward the brands in the UK," he said.
A variety of health-focused products were due to hit the market within the next two to three years, PepsiCo said. There would be an increased investment in research and development to boost healthier credentials, it added.
Murray said the opportunity to head up the brands at a time when consumers were increasingly interested in health was exciting.
"In spite of difficult market conditions in the past year, Tropicana has continued to perform strongly," he added.
"With consumer confidence becoming more buoyant, we see great opportunities for further growth, which we aim to unlock through NPD and marketing campaigns."
In the year to October, Tropicana's sales slipped 4.2% to £270m, although that performance was better than the overall 6.6% decline in the juice and smoothies market [Nielsen 52w/e 3 October 2009]. While concentrates overall are still in decline, not-from-concentrate is now making small gains and the freshly squeezed segment is outpacing the category.
Murray joined the business in 1995, working up from business planning manager to general manager for its concentrate business in Ireland, India, Pakistan and Puerto Rico. He then took responsibility for the UK's total manufacturing function from 2008, overseeing eight sites.
Murray will take charge of the two brands as the company begins a 10-year global revenue drive to treble sales from healthier brands, including Quaker and Tropicana.
He replaces David Johnston, who left the business to become CEO of Groupe Aeroplan-Europe in January, and will report to PepsiCo UK and Ireland president Richard Evans.
Evans said the two brands were integral to the group's healthier focus.
"David possesses outstanding leadership skills, commercial acumen and cross-functional knowledge. He is well positioned to drive forward the brands in the UK," he said.
A variety of health-focused products were due to hit the market within the next two to three years, PepsiCo said. There would be an increased investment in research and development to boost healthier credentials, it added.
Murray said the opportunity to head up the brands at a time when consumers were increasingly interested in health was exciting.
"In spite of difficult market conditions in the past year, Tropicana has continued to perform strongly," he added.
"With consumer confidence becoming more buoyant, we see great opportunities for further growth, which we aim to unlock through NPD and marketing campaigns."
In the year to October, Tropicana's sales slipped 4.2% to £270m, although that performance was better than the overall 6.6% decline in the juice and smoothies market [Nielsen 52w/e 3 October 2009]. While concentrates overall are still in decline, not-from-concentrate is now making small gains and the freshly squeezed segment is outpacing the category.
Murray joined the business in 1995, working up from business planning manager to general manager for its concentrate business in Ireland, India, Pakistan and Puerto Rico. He then took responsibility for the UK's total manufacturing function from 2008, overseeing eight sites.
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