CEO Today United Kingdom Awards

www.ceotodaymagazine.com 66 CEO Today United Kingdom Awards 2019 FOOD & BEVERAGES NICK FIELD CEO of Burton’s Biscuit Company FIRM PROFILE Burton’s Biscuit Company is a leading UK biscuit manufacturer and has been proudly baking great tasting biscuits for over 100 years. With more than 1800 employees, and four bakeries across the UK, Burton’s baked treats are enjoyed by consumers both in the UK and worldwide. Burton’s includes leading brands such as Maryland Cookies, Jammie Dodgers and Wagon Wheels among its exciting portfolio of products, but also proudly features a large retailer own brand portfolio, and multiple manufacturing and commercial partnerships with other leading global companies, such as Mars and Unilever. “Burton’s passion is to Bake Great Biscuits, and we ensure the same expertise, commitment and pride goes into the baking of every one of the 10,000 biscuits we bake every minute of every day, ensuring each one receives the same love and attention as the next.” In recent years, Burton’s has extended its capability, investing behind new technologies and laying down new machinery to meet expanding consumer needs. “We are always looking for ways to develop our capability and to bring new excitement and innovation to the biscuit fixture. This has led us to continually seek opportunities to extend our offering for our customers and consumers alike and was the catalyst behind our recent pursuit and successful acquisition of the Thomas Fudge’s business at the start of 2019. This agreement included the addition of a new premium brand into our portfolio, alongside a fantastic range of artisanal baking capability from the Dorset bakery.” The acquisition is the latest step on Burton’s positive journey, and marks a clear intent from both management and owners to the continued provision of innovation and excitement in the biscuit category, highlighting the shared ambition to invest and grow, enhancing Burton’s status and credentials as a leading baker of great biscuits and snacks. www.burtonsbiscuits.com ABOUT NICK FIELD Nick joined Burton’s in 2004, having previously worked in professional services, where he qualified as a chartered accountant with PwC. During his 15 years with Burton’s, Nick has held many positions across the business, joining the Board in 2009 as Commercial & Strategy Director. In 2013, Nick played a leading role in the sale of Burton’s to Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan, OTPP, before taking over as CFO. Three years later, he led the successful sale process of the Cadbury biscuit business to Mondelez, a project that culminated in him being appointed CEO of Burton’s Biscuits in September 2016. The sale of the Cadbury business created the opportunity of a new beginning for Burton’s, which Nick took to reset the ambitions for the company. As CEO, Nick has led a restructuring of the organisation, completed a full refinancing process, whilst also repositioning the business with a new vision and purpose for the future. Aligning with owners, OTPP, this created an exciting new path for Burton’s, which Nick and his team have been delivering against ever since. During Nick’s time as CEO, Burton’s has delivered positively, achieving market share gains as well as sales and profit growth. This exciting period of growth has been driven by branded and retailer brand development, whilst also being notably marked by the signing of new global partners and the addition of new capability through the acquisition of the Dorset-based, artisanal biscuit company, Thomas Fudge’s.