Lactalis UK & Ireland names new boss

26-May-2020 - Last updated on 26-May-2020 at 11:17 GMT

Chatters: 'Sales growth in all trade channels'

Related tags Dairy Training & recruitment

Lactalis UK & Ireland, the UK subsidiary of the French Lactalis Group, has announced the promotion of sales director Mike Chatters to group managing director (MD), effective from 1 June.

Chatters will take responsibility for all the Lactalis UK & Ireland businesses. Hugues Meaudre, the current group MD, will become MD of Lactalis AOC France, which is based in Roquefort.

Chatters joined Lactalis Group in June 2015 and has spent his career to date working with major fast-moving consumer goods brands, such as Colgate Palmolive, Coca-Cola, Guinness and Birds Eye.

“We have a dynamic brand portfolio, a growing private-label business, a dedicated and committed team, and we’re seeing sales growth in all trade channels," said Chatters. “I’m looking forward to working with the team, our customers and business partners to ensure we continue to meet our ambitious growth objectives by responding to the ‘new normal’ and beyond for our industry.”

In a connected move, Ian Sanger, has been promoted to the role of sales director. Sanger, who joined Lactalis in August 2011, has had a number of commercial roles, latterly as business unit director – retail sales. Both promotions reflected Lactalis Group’s strategy to nurture talent and promote from within, the company said, claiming that more than 70% of its executive committee positions were filled internally.

Global brands Galbani and Président

Lactalis UK & Ireland claimed to be the market leader in the dairy category, with a strong portfolio of leading cheese brands, including Seriously, Seriously Spreadable, Galloway, Orkney and global brands Galbani and Président.

Lactalis has a strong presence in the UK, with three wholly-owned manufacturing sites. In Stranraer, south-west Scotland, The Caledonian Cheese Company makes Scottish cheddar. It is the home of the Seriously & Galloway Cheddar brands. McLelland Cheese Packing is Lactalis Group's UK packing facility, which is also in Stranraer, Scotland, and packs block, grated and sliced cheddar. In Cricket St. Thomas, Somerset, the Lubborn Creamery manufactures and packs artisan British brie, camembert and goat’s cheese under the Cricket St. Thomas brand.

The group employs 425 people across its UK headquarters in Redhill, Surrey and these three manufacturing sites.