United Co-operative's Food Group has strengthened its senior management team in north-west England with the promotion of Karl Ward and David Brighouse to the positions of group managers.

In new roles for the company, Ward will manage 58 stores and four area managers in the Lancashire area, while Brighouse will manage 40 stores and oversee four area managers in the Manchester/Oldham areas.

Ward joined United Co-op 10 years ago as a store manager at Cheadle Heath. After working as a store manager at a further three stores, he was promoted to the position of area manager for a number of the company's food stores within the Manchester area.

Brighouse came to United Co-op in 1989, first working as a trainee store manager and then a store manager before becoming area manager four years ago.