Corporate advisory firm McQueen has made a quartet of appointments to broaden its reach in food, drink and retail.

Garyth Stone and Patrick Mewton have joined the company to work in its food and drink unit. They previously led the Rabobank M&A team in the UK and Ireland and were senior members of its European food and beverage practice, with a strong focus on European and Asian clients.

They recently advised Grupo Forlasa on the sale of its Spanish cheese business to Lactalis, and Tate & Lyle on the proposed sale of its Vietnamese sugar business to TH Milk.

Ashish Burman has joined McQueen's retail unit. She has worked for Hawkpoint on the sales of Hobbs, Jane Norman and Phase Eight, and also worked on the Mezzanine team at European Capital.

John Richards has also joined the business as a consultant. He was an equity analyst in the retail sector, and has been a ­consultant since 2004.

"These appointments position the business for significant further growth," said MD Clive Baker. "They are a major step towards our goal of being advisor of choice in the European ­consumer sector."