Mr Philips, the chief executive of airports operator daa, will join Greencore in September.

He will replace Patrick Coveney who left the company at the end of March to take up the CEO job at SSP Group, an operator of food and beverage outlets in travel locations including Upper Crust.

Mr Philips has been daa CEO since October 2017 and was previously the CEO of Morrisons, the UK’s fourth largest supermarket chain, between 2010 and 2015.

He has also worked with the George Weston Group, including as COO of Loblaw Companies Limited, the leading Canadian grocery retailer, and CEO of Brown Thomas Group.

Gary Kennedy, Executive Chairman of Greencore, said that as well as his outstanding knowledge of the grocery sector, Dalton Philips has a strong track record of leading dynamic consumer-related businesses.

“We see him as the ideal candidate to lead Greencore into the next phase of its journey as it continues to emerge strongly from the challenges of trading through the pandemic,” he said.

Until Mr Philips’s arrival at the end of September, Mr Kennedy said he will continue in the role of Executive Chair, supported by Kevin Moore, the company’s Deputy CEO, and Emma Hynes, its CFO.

Dalton Philips said he was hugely excited to be joining Greencore.

“I know from my time as a Greencore customer that this is a business with exceptional dynamism, adaptability and ambition, and one that is committed to the highest levels of product quality, customer service, and sustainability,” he said.

“I am looking forward very much to joining their industry-leading team in September, and to helping to realise the significant future growth potential that I see for this business,” he added.

Convenience food group Greencore has reported a return to revenue and profit growth for the year to September 24, saying it is emerging strongly from a challenging period due to Covid-19.

Its group revenue for the year rose by 4.8% to £1.325 billion on the back of a return to growth in food to go categories and solid growth in other convenience categories.

The company’s adjusted operating profit was up 20% to £39m, while its group operating profit soared by almost 232% to £42.8m from £12.9 the previous year.

The company confirmed last week that Patrick Coveney is to step down as CEO of the company next year to take up the role of CEO at Upper Crust owner SSP Group, which operates food and beverage outlets in travel locations.

Greencore, which is the biggest sandwich maker in the UK, said that trading so far in its new financial year has been encouraging with continued positive revenue momentum across the business.

“As mobility increases towards pre-pandemic levels, there is strong demand in food to go and other convenience categories,” it stated.

Supply challenges

Greencore said that as the economy reopened after Covid restrictions, supply-side challenges emerged across the UK food industry.

“This has been primarily driven by tight labour availability, with a marked impact on logistics and the supply of inbound materials,” it said.

“Greencore has not been immune to these impacts but delivered strong operational service levels in this context, supported by its own direct-to-store distribution network,” a spokesman added.

Patrick Coveney, Greencore’s chief executive, said that the company has weathered the storm and emerged strongly from a difficult period.

“Following a challenging first half in FY21, we made good progress in rebuilding revenues, cashflows and profitability in H2 and are confident of maintaining this positive trajectory in the year ahead, particularly in the seasonally important second half,” he said.

He said the strong recovery of the UK food to go market, as well as solid performance in other convenience food categories, underpins this confidence.

“New business wins achieved last year are contributing to our momentum, and we anticipate delivery of profits for the year ahead in line with current market expectations,” he said.

“With strong free cashflow and a significant reduction in leverage achieved in FY21, the Group enters the new financial year on a robust financial footing,” he said.

“Greencore has a strong position in the dynamic UK convenience food market and, with demand remaining strong in the early stages of FY22, has confidence in its medium-term prospects,” the outgoing CEO added.

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