Meakin (right) spent three years at Somerfield as director of strategy and business systems, until it was acquired by The Co-operative Group in 2009

Was: Director of strategy and business systems for Somerfield from 2006 to 2009
Years in grocery: Three
Now: Director of emerging concept operations for Mitchells & Butlers

Career background: Meakin spent three years at Somerfield as director of strategy and business systems, until it was acquired by The Co-operative Group in 2009. Prior to Somerfield, he worked at Bain & Company, where he worked on pricing strategy and category management.

What did he work on at Somerfield? Meakin was unofficially known as director of odds and ends, taking on everything that didn’t fit into commercial, retail or finance. He was responsible for strategy, business development, PR and IT, as well as project managing Somerfield’s change and customer plans. He also managed the sales process alongside David Cheyne and took Somerfield through the OFT process for the Co-op takeover.

What is he doing now? Meakin describes his role at Mitchells & Butlers as a general management role. He has been working on steakhouse concept Miller & Carter as well as on the launch of its new pan-Asian food concept TUK CHO.

Does he miss the grocery sector? “Yes and no,” Carter says. “I miss working with some fantastic people at Somerfield and helping create a successful business. I also miss being close to what is going on in grocery. But I don’t miss the panic of when systems go down and you have to revert to last week’s orders to get product out to shops.”

Will he come back? “Never say never,” he says. “But I enjoy working in hospitality where service really is a key differentiator as you battle to convince guests to spend their diminishing disposable income on a night out in your restaurants.”