Hilton Food Group Appoints Former Dairy Crest CEO Mark Allen as New Chairman
Source: DairyNews.today
Hilton Food Group, the London-listed private-label supplier, has announced the appointment of Mark Allen, former CEO of Dairy Crest and current chair of AG Barr, as its new chairman. Allen will succeed Robert Watson, OBE, who has served the company for over two decades, starting from 1 January 2024.
Robert Watson, who joined Hilton Foods as CEO in 2002 and transitioned to executive chairman in 2018 before moving to a non-executive role in 2021, will remain a committed investor in the company. Reflecting on his tenure, Watson stated, "After more than 20 years at Hilton Foods, the time is right to continue our process of evolving our leadership."
Allen, a seasoned leader in the consumer goods industry, brings extensive experience fr om his roles at Dairy Crest, wh ere he served as CEO from 2007 to 2019, and various non-executive director positions. He was awarded an OBE in 2019 for his contributions to the UK’s dairy sector. Upon his appointment, Allen expressed his excitement, noting, "This is a very exciting time for Hilton Foods and I am looking forward to continuing the excellent progress made so far through Robert’s leadership."
Hilton Food Group has reported positive financial results for the first half of the year, with revenue reaching £1.94bn, up 1.1% on a like-for-like basis, despite an 8.4% decline on a statutory basis. Adjusted operating profit rose 12.2%, signaling strong business performance under the leadership of CEO Steve Murrells, CBE, who took over from Philip Heffer last year.
The UK and Ireland region performed particularly well, with revenue up 1.2% to £709.6m and adjusted operating profit increasing to £21.1m. However, the rest of Europe and APAC regions saw revenue declines, attributed to challenging market conditions.
Looking ahead, Murrells emphasized Hilton Foods' potential for further growth, citing the company’s strong financial position and multi-category offerings as key drivers for international expansion.
Allen, a seasoned leader in the consumer goods industry, brings extensive experience fr om his roles at Dairy Crest, wh ere he served as CEO from 2007 to 2019, and various non-executive director positions. He was awarded an OBE in 2019 for his contributions to the UK’s dairy sector. Upon his appointment, Allen expressed his excitement, noting, "This is a very exciting time for Hilton Foods and I am looking forward to continuing the excellent progress made so far through Robert’s leadership."
Hilton Food Group has reported positive financial results for the first half of the year, with revenue reaching £1.94bn, up 1.1% on a like-for-like basis, despite an 8.4% decline on a statutory basis. Adjusted operating profit rose 12.2%, signaling strong business performance under the leadership of CEO Steve Murrells, CBE, who took over from Philip Heffer last year.
The UK and Ireland region performed particularly well, with revenue up 1.2% to £709.6m and adjusted operating profit increasing to £21.1m. However, the rest of Europe and APAC regions saw revenue declines, attributed to challenging market conditions.
Looking ahead, Murrells emphasized Hilton Foods' potential for further growth, citing the company’s strong financial position and multi-category offerings as key drivers for international expansion.
