Mark Allen chief executive, Dairy Crest
Dairy Crest chief executive Mark Allen has transformed the business into an increasingly efficient, brand-focused outfit with impressive sales figures to match during his six years at the helm.
That’s no mean feat in the best of times, but to do it against the backdrop of a recession, significant internal restructuring and last year’s dairy crisis shows why the passionate Stoke City fan is on this shortlist. Allen is widely acknowledged among industry insiders to have tackled the latter crisis with aplomb.
In addition to being the first firm to sign up to the Voluntary Code for Dairy Practice, he introduced a new formula-based system for milk pricing which proved incredibly popular with farmers.
Never one to mince his words, he conceded that milk pricing had been a “win/win” situation for processors for far too long and that “it was vital we took action to build a relationship based on trust, where everyone can benefit.”
Allen has, as he puts it, “significantly accelerated” the firm’s journey from its roots in the Milk Marketing Board to a more lean, brand-orientated operation with many of its products among the first to go in shoppers’ trolleys.
Cheddar brand Cathedral City was recently named one of Britain’s top 10 brands, alongside the likes of Apple and Marks & Spencer in a YouGov survey.
This year, the brand will be consumed in 50% of all British households.
Allen is the first to admit that the journey hasn’t been easy and there have been several factory closures in the past couple of years, in addition to significant investment in the cheddar plant at Davidstow and modern packing premises in Nuneaton.
Watch our exclusive video with Allen to learn why he pledged Dairy Crest will “continue to hold a mirror to itself” to maintain its drive for efficiencies and compete against foreign competitors.