Finlay Beverages is replacing its top management team, just months after the own label tea and coffee supplier lost a lucrative 108-year-old contract to supply Sainsbury’s historic Red label tea.

Managing director Caroline des Forges, commercial director Russ Fowlkes and chairman Ron Mathison are all leaving their posts in the shake-up following a strategic review.

Des Forges will stay in her post until a replacement is found. She is expected to remain with the business for at least six months to minimise disruption and help with the transition to new leadership.

Martin Hudson, MD of Finlays Horticulture, will oversee the commercial team at the beverages division until a new commercial director is found.

Neil Willsher will continue in his current role as MD for leaf tea and tea extracts, but will also take on the role of chairman of Finlay Beverages on 1 September.

Customers were told of the changes in a letter from Mathison. “This change in reporting lines is designed to ensure a more cohesive integration between our tea packing, tea trading and tea extracts businesses, consistent with our ‘bush to cup’ philosophy,” he wrote, adding that the restructure would “strength our competitiveness”.

“These have been difficult decisions and ones which have not been taken lightly. We believe, however, that these changes will strengthen Finlay Beverages and position it better for future growth and cost competitiveness.”

The company added that it planned to continue to invest in new equipment and factory upgrades.

The Grocer revealed in October last year that Finlay had lost its long-running contract with Sainsbury’s. The retailer instead awarded the contract to rivals Spicers and Ringtons.

Source

Chloe Ryan

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