Jonathan Taylor, who serves as general manager at Branston’s South West site, is set to leave the business later this year.
Taylor joined Branston in September 2017 and has played a vital role in the growth and transformation of the site, in Ilminster, Somerset, which focuses on the production and packing of new and salad potatoes.
During his tenure, site turnover more than doubled. Taylor also oversaw a major £9 million investment programme in 2019 to upgrade facilities and introduce automation. These changes led to improved efficiency, working conditions and productivity.
“From growing the business to investing in automation and seeing the site become such a modern, efficient operation, it’s been a fantastic journey,” Taylor reflected.
“One of the most satisfying parts has been watching the operational numbers improve week after week and of course dealing with the incredibly busy Christmas period each year, when volumes more than double, requiring the team to plan months in advance.”
During a working life that spanned 42 years, Taylor has held several other leadership roles in food, including factory manager at Creative Foods and general manager at Westaway Sausages.
His retirement will see Simon Jones, current operations manager, step into the role of GM. With Taylor set to leave in March, a three-month handover has begun.
Jones joined the South West team in January 2012 as a night shift supervisor and has held several roles over this time, including shift manager, production manager, and operations manager roles.
Commenting on his new role, he said: “I started at Branston as a night shift supervisor and over the years I’ve been given incredible support to progress, with Jonathan playing a big part in that. I really understand the business from the bottom up and that’s something I’m very proud of.
“Looking ahead, I’m excited about continuing to grow the site, increasing capacity, investing further in sustainability such as solar energy, and making sure we stay at the forefront of technology in our industry.”
Jim Windle, chief executive officer of Branston, added: “Jonathan has made an outstanding contribution to Branston and to the success of our South West operation. Under his leadership the site has grown significantly, embraced innovation and consistently delivered exceptional standards for our customers. We are incredibly grateful for his dedication and wish him a very happy retirement.
“Simon’s appointment reflects our commitment to developing talent from within the business. His knowledge of the site, his leadership style and his vision for the future make him the ideal person to take the site forward.”
