Blakemore chairman Peter Blakemore confirmed the plan at the wholesaler’s management communication day this month. He said: “Our ambition is one company, one management team and one plan. 

“We have now moved away from divisional structures and towards one unified management team with new group-wide trading, marketing, store proposition and merchandising functions that will enable us to leverage skills and experience across the group to drive the business forward.

Management shake-up for AF Blakemore

“To achieve our strategy, we’ve established a rolling five-year programme that will change as the market evolves, spanning the areas in which we operate.”

The company is currently split into eight divisions – retail, trade partners, logistics, wholesale distribution, food-service, fresh foods, design and shopfitting, and fine foods. 

The changes come as Blakemore group director Caoire Blakemore confirmed the company would be using its foodservice division to help retailers develop their food-to-go products. 

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