Widdowson, nephew of former chairman Alastair Macphie, joined the company in 2017 as head of sales before transitioning to site Director at the company’s manufacturing headquarters in 2022.
In his most recent role, Widdowson served as strategy, people & sustainability director – a newly created position designed to give greater weight to these three key business areas.
Commenting on his appointment, Widdowson said: “It’s an honour to take on this role and lead Macphie into its next phase of evolution. This company has an incredible heritage, and as a family business, we have a deep-rooted practice of investing in our people, our products and our sustainability efforts.
“Looking forward, my time will be dedicated to building stronger customer partnerships and driving projects that reduce our carbon output whilst delivering operational efficiencies.”
FMCG roots
Prior to joining Macphie, Widdowson spent eight years at Procter & Gamble in the UK and Switzerland, working across global brands including Gillette, Pampers, and Oral-B before becoming Head of Sales for Duracell UK.
Norman Soutar, chairman of Macphie said: “We have a long-term strategy for the business and Ed’s appointment is a key element in aligning the organisation to deliver our next phase of growth. As an experienced business leader, Ed embodies the culture of Macphie.
“He cares deeply about our people and seeks to create initiatives that will improve the lives of our colleagues, their families and the communities where we operate.”
The company plans to strengthen its position as the UK’s leading independent food ingredients manufacturer, focusing on delivering premium ready-to-use sauces, inclusions and bakery products to its restaurant, bakery, retail and food-to-go customers.
“The business is at an exciting stage as we continue our capital investment programme into improving the infrastructure of our factories, creating capacity and building more sustainable methods of production,” Widdowson added.
‘Extending our global footprint’
“The UK will always be our core market, and we are proud of our Scottish roots, but I am equally excited to be taking our products and service further afield. Our ambition is to expand Macphie’s global footprint, particularly in high-growth markets and we have already made significant progress in several regions including the Middle East.
“This year we will be opening our first facility outside the UK in Dubai, as we look to build on the exciting vision and ambition of the region.”
Widdowson’s appointment is effective from 1 April 2025.
Meanwhile, Sofina Foods Europe has strengthened its senior leadership team with three new appointments.
