Blue Rice were approached by the Head of Talent Acquisition in Autumn 2021 to support with a series of executive level hires across the Retail & Hospitality business units. It was important to the client that we followed our diligent selection process, providing balanced and inclusive shortlists for each search. Working closely with the Commercial Directors we secured candidates that have raised the bar in an already high performing team. Key appointments have included:- Business Unit Director - Tesco Group, Business Unit Director - Asda & Sainsburys, Channel Director - Dining / QSR and Channel Director - Convenience & Impulse. A project of this scale took several months to complete, it had many moving parts and would not have been possible without the hard work of several key stakeholders, who remained focussed on the end goal throughout. The client was awarded The Grocer supplier of the year in summer 2023!
In Spring 2023, Blue Rice were selected to partner with premium meal solutions provider, as they looked to expand their presence in UK Retail. The client had ambitious plans and could see fresh opportunities in the category but required the right leadership team to unlock the growth. It was important to build a talent attraction process that brought to life the history, heritage and product quality, whilst informing candidates of the opportunities on offer. Engaging adverts, informative candidate packs and a methodical search & selection process generated a high-profile candidate pool of senior sales, category & insights leaders. The successful applicants were onboarded within the agreed timeframes and ready to deliver an exciting chapter of growth in the UK. We look forward to seeing our clients products landing in shopping baskets up and down the country as it aims for market leader status!
In 2021 we began supporting Matthew Glover (Owner of The Vegan Food Group & Founder of Veganuary) with the expansion of his plant based food & drink portfolio. We quickly tapped into the vision & values of Matthew and his organisations. Less than three years on we have successfully helped to build his Vegan Fried Chick'n business from the ground up and enhanced the leadership capability in several of his other ventures. Hires have included:- Managing Directors, Commercial Directors, Marketing Directors, Head of Supply Chain, Head of Innovation, Head of Marketing & Head of Sales - both UK & Internationally. We have consistently engaged and secured candidates who have bought into the mission and delivered growth.
Over the last 9 years our founder Mark Gouland has supported Kraft Heinz through its vast transition from the former HJ Heinz organisation into the modern business we see today. This involves sourcing and influencing some of the best senior talent in the industry both UK & Internationally. There are no shortcuts when it comes to screening talent for KHC, it requires hundreds of face to face interviews and countless cups of coffee, however it's worth the effort when we find a stand-out candidate who fits their culture. Their hiring needs have changed as the business has evolved but a collaborative relationship means we are clear on what skills they require and when. This client demands precision and our ratio of CV to hire is consistently high. Key hires have included National Account Controllers, Account Directors, Channel Directors and Sales Directors across a variety of categories and channels. It's fulfilling to see many of our appointments achieve high profile promotions and carve a rewarding career within the business.
We have worked closely with a natural drinks upllier to showcase its provenance, authenticity and 'small but mighty' mentality in an attempt to capture the best sales and marketing candidates in the market. Creating an engaging and informative recruitment process we have helped them hire multiple high profile candidates across its On Trade, Convenience and International divisions. The business is now outperforming several of its competitors and winning industry awards along the way! Hires have included Head of Marketing UK, Head of On Trade, Head of Convenience & Impulse and International Account Manager - Europe.
In January 2022, Blue Rice were asked to undertake a European wide search for a best in class Channel Development Director - eCommerce. Reporting to the Head of Europe, the role was central to the 5 year digital growth strategy. Following a thorough search process we appointed a knowledgable specialist who step changed a pivotal Amazon relationship and implemented a successful mix of online playbooks. Gaining a clear brief from the hiring manager and understanding the technical requirements for the role were crucial in this search.
Blue Rice pitched and we're selected to lead the search for a UK Country Director on behalf of plant-based drinks provider. The founders had recently received a significant level of investment from an ambitious VC fund and were looking for an experienced commercial leader to mastermind brand expansion. Sourcing a candidate that clicked with the wider European team and could attract others on the journey in the UK was a top priority. Following a hotly contested selection and interview process we appointed a superb candidate who has made huge inroads in the UK market. As a reward for her success the candidate has been promoted to Chief Commercial Officer for this on trend drinks brand.
Following an internal promotion we were asked to search and secure a high calibre commercial professional to lead the grocery & eCommerce business unit through its next phase of growth. Working to a clear brief we sourced a candidate from a rival drinks supplier that made an immediate impact and was promoted to UK Commercial Director within 18 months. All parties were delighted with the outcome and a dram or two were raised.