Steve Challouma and Jo Smith are set to join the senior leadership team at The Compleat Food Group.
Challouma takes up the newly appointed position of chief growth officer with immediate effect, while Smith is due to become chief product officer later this month.
The move marks a shift for Challouma, who has spent much of his career in the frozen food sector. Most recently, he was chief marketing officer at Nomad Foods, overseeing commercial strategy and category performance while working with major brands such as Goodfella’s, Aunt Bessie’s and Findus.
In that role, he operated across 22 international markets and helped establish a coordinated commercial strategy designed to strengthen customer value and support portfolio growth. Before joining Nomad Foods, Challouma served as general manager of Birds Eye UK and Ireland, guiding the company through a substantial period of change.
At The Compleat Food Group, Challouma will lead the company’s category-focused growth strategy. His responsibilities will include aligning group-level planning with implementation, category direction and consumer insight to create sustainable value for customers over the long term. His appointment comes as food and beverage industry trends, food and drink consumer trends and food and drink marketing continue to influence commercial priorities across the sector.
Smith is joining from Hilton Foods and will take responsibility for product development and innovation across the group. Her background spans chilled private-label food manufacturing, category development and customer collaboration. She previously led product development for Greencore’s food-to-go division.
The Compleat Food Group said the appointments arrive at a “significant point” in its development. Founded in 2021, the company has rapidly established itself as one of the UK’s leading food manufacturers. It now employs more than 6,800 people across 20 sites and records annual sales of close to £1.5 billion.
The appointments also reflect the wider priorities shaping food manufacturing trends, including investment in food processing technology, food and drink packaging, food and drink sustainability and food and drink regulations.
Nick Reade, UK managing director at The Compleat Food Group, said: “Together, they significantly strengthen our leadership team and will play a key role in helping us deliver our ambitions for the future and continuing our mission to create Food to Feel Good.”
Challouma said: “What immediately attracted me to The Compleat Food Group was the breadth of its portfolio and the strength of its category positions.
“From plant-based foods and Mediterranean-deli products to savoury pastry, dips, soups and sauces, the business has built an impressive combination of category-leading own label capabilities and leading brands. I’m excited to build on that momentum and help shape the next phase of the group’s journey.”
Smith added: “The Compleat Food Group has established a strong reputation for quality, innovation and customer partnership across a diverse range of categories.
“I’m looking forward to joining at such an important stage and working with teams across the business to continue developing outstanding products that deliver for customers and consumers.”
The leadership changes come at a time when food and drink industry innovation, evolving food distribution trends and changing expectations around food and drink sustainability are reshaping the competitive landscape.
