Neil joins with an impressive track record in some of the UK’s leading food and drink companies, including Kerry Foods, where he has worked as Operations’ Director and latterly as Human Resources Director for Operations. Neil also has several years’ experience working for Kraft Foods, mainly in the coffee category, as well as working as Manufacturing Director for Cadbury’s UK & Ireland operations. He takes over the position from Dave McBeain, who held the role in an interim capacity and who now returns to his home role as Senior Vice President of Business Change and Organisation Effectiveness.
Neil will manage production across Weetabix Food Company’s sites, ensuring the business continues to manufacture to its high-quality standards and offers consistently brilliant products, including the UK’s number one breakfast cereal Weetabix[1], to retailers & consumers.
Part of Neil’s role will be to oversee the new state-of-the-art Corby factory, which recently underwent a £16 million renovation. This investment forms a key part of Weetabix Food Company’s sustainability strategy and efforts to maintain resource efficiency - it has already halved the amount of energy consumed on site.
Neil Chapman, Manufacturing Director, Weetabix Food Company, said: “I’m delighted to join the team here at the Weetabix Food Company and I’m looking forward to making sure that these iconic brands continue to reach the breakfast tables of millions of people across Britain.
“Making brilliant product sustainably will be a key part of my role as we look to increase efficiencies and reach our targets. For example, we’re on track to meet our goal of a 20 percent reduction in water use compared to 2015 by the end of the year and at present we are completing a carbon footprint benchmark study to work towards carbon reduction. I’ll also be working on driving out waste in all its forms throughout our business as well as continuing to deliver zero waste to landfill.”
Weetabix Food Company has also announced Steve Lynn as its new Head of Engineering. He brings a wide range of engineering and production experience from numerous roles in Dow Chemical and British Sugar, including Factory Manager.
Steve will focus on improving Weetabix Food Company’s delivery and execution of engineering support and capital delivery, while continuing to build on foundations laid for continued improvement and growth in capabilities necessary in today’s growing and complex food manufacturing environment.
Sally Abbott, Weetabix Managing Director UK and Ireland, said: “Both of these key appointments reinforce our continued commitment to our world-class manufacturing capabilities. We’re confident that we have the facilities and talent to keep delighting our consumers and retailers with our well-loved brands and products.”