Kepak Group, a leading meat producer in Europe, operates 15 manufacturing plants in Ireland and the UK. Recently, they appointed Brian Farrell (pictured), an experienced food business professional, as the new CEO of their Kepak Foods Division. Kepak has experienced significant growth since their humble beginnings as a family-run butcher shop on Dublin’s Francis Street. Today, they are a renowned international food innovator, employing over 5,000 people across 43 countries.
The Kepak Foods Division houses the group’s value-added food concepts, which include popular brands like Rustlers, Feasters, Stript Snacks, and Big Als. These brands can be found in retailers across the UK, Ireland, and Europe. Additionally, the division supplies the foodservice market in Ireland, the UK, and Europe with a wide range of high-quality beef, chicken, and pork-based products.
Prior to joining Kepak, Brian held several senior executive positions with Glanbia plc and IBI Corporate Finance. He was most recently part of the Glanbia Nutritionals executive leadership team, where he had global responsibility for product management in the nutrition sector. He also played a key role in corporate development activities. With a background as a chartered accountant trained at KPMG, Brian previously served as a director at IBI Corporate Finance. In this role, he provided M&A, funding, and strategic advice to clients spanning various industries.
Commenting on Brian’s appointment, Kepak CEO Simon Walker expressed his delight, stating, “We are thrilled to welcome Brian to the Kepak team as CEO of our Foods Division. Brian is a proven leader when it comes to managing businesses for growth and driving acquisitive development. I look forward to working closely with Brian and wish him every success in his new role.”
Brian is a fellow of the Institute of Chartered Accountants in Ireland.
