Owen McLellan

McLellan has been MD of the surplus food and household product redistributor since January 2023

Owen McLellan will step down from his role as MD of Company Shop Group, The Grocer can reveal.

McLellan has been MD of the surplus food and household product redistributor since January 2023, having originally joined as group finance director in May 2022.

While leading the group, McLellan made a significant contribution to the company’s turnaround over the past two years, guiding it through a difficult transition period while it integrated with parent company Biffa following a controversial acquisition.

Under his leadership, the group has significantly strengthened its financial position and customer sentiment, yet McLellan has chosen to further his experience in “a senior role outside the food industry”.

‘Sustained growth’

“During my time with the business, I’ve seen our sustainable redistribution model go from strength to strength, delivering measurable impact for our industry partners and the communities we serve,” McLellan said.

“Our strong and sustained growth shows the demand from both industry and consumers for the Company Shop model. It’s been a privilege to be part of such a dynamic and passionate team, and I would like to take this opportunity to thank the whole team and all of our partners for their commitment and wish them every success for the future.”

Maxine Mayhew, chief operating officer (collection & specialist services) at Biffa, added: “On behalf of the board and the entire Company Shop Group team, I would like to extend our gratitude to Owen for his leadership since he joined. His dedication has played an instrumental role in Company Shop Group’s impact and achievements, and we wish him all the best for this new chapter.”

Company Shop Group says it is in the process of recruiting a new MD, and in the interim period the business will be led by its senior leadership team.