CHRIS BUTTON
London
Summary
An experienced senior commercial manager with over 10 years in FMCG across private label and branded business units. I am professionally and personally motivated by plant based foods and the environmental benefits achieved by reducing consumers' meat consumption, which was fostered through six years leading the business development and launches for two plant based businesses. I have a track record of delivering strong results, alongside extensive people- and team-management experience.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
9
9
years of post-secondary education
Work history
UK Sales Director
Impossible Foods
London
07.2022 - Current
- Responsible for developing the commercial strategy and leading the internal and external sales resource for the UK launches of Impossible
- Lead the business case development and internal stakeholder management, as well as the commercial aspect of the tender, for a European co-manufacturer (Impossible's first outside NA): on-boarded April 2024
- Delivered accelerated commercial launch of bespoke "chicken" products for the UK market, securing major national end user outlets to support marketing deliverables for Q4 2024 and Q1 2025, along with +80% YoY 2024 volumes sales growth for the UK business
Commercial Controller
Pilgrim's Food Masters
10.2021 - 07.2022
- Kerry Foods business unit sold to Pilgrim's October 2021
- Primary responsibilities included performance delivery, team leadership and engagement, and shaping the strategic direction of two business units comprising 6 sales-people
- Snacking business plan implemented to deliver +33% Revenue growth versus prior year
- Successfully negotiated renewal of Tesco PL cooked meats contract worth £40m+ Revenue annually
Sales Lead
Kerry Foods
01.2019 - 09.2021
- Commercial lead for Kerry Foods' new business development in Plant Based
- Drove the commercial engagement for the launch of two brands: Richmond and Taste & Glory, which after Year 2 in market had a combined market share of +7%, with Richmond Meat Free the fastest growing Meat Free brand in the UK and Richmond Meat Free Sausages the number 1 overall selling product in the market
- 2021 projection for the Plant Based business of +£40m RSV and +28,000 total distribution points across all top-4 grocers, Waitrose and within the Impulse channel
- Developed close relationships with Kerry Foodservice team to support delivery of listings in this channel, including Booker, Bidfood and Costco
- Additionally, member of the Kerry Sales Champions programme, with Year 1 responsibility for developing a standardised customer engagement toolkit (with a focus on Kerry's sustainability initiatives) and Year 2 responsibility as Sainsbury's Customer Champion
Senior National Account Manager
Kerry Foods
01.2017 - 12.2018
- Account responsibility for Tesco, Asda & new business development, delivering Revenue growth of +3.4% in Tesco and +1.7% in Asda in 2018, in the context of a mature category
- Successfully negotiated full cost price increase in Asda Q1 2017
- Delivered new Richmond Sausage contracts with Lidl and Costco and first private label Sausage contracts for Kerry with Asda and Greene King, worth combined incremental £3.5m Revenue in 2018
- Champion for Kerry Foods’ Customer Management Academy, a bespoke selling and negotiation-skills training programme for Kerry commercial colleagues
National Account Manager
Kerry Foods
10.2013 - 12.2016
- Account manager for the private label cooked meats business with Tesco (£45m Revenue), before moving to the Meats team as Account Manager for Asda and Morrisons (£40m Revenue)
National Account Executive
Kerry Foods
09.2011 - 09.2013
- Primarily admin-based role on Tesco private label accounts, developing into direct account management for Ocado, NISA and Iceland
Education
Bachelor of Arts - History & Politics
The University of York
York, UK 10.2008 - 07.2011
A Levels: History (A), English Literature (A), Psychology (A). GCSEs: 12 At Grade A*-A (including Mathematics And English) -
Colyton Grammar School
01.2002 - 01.2008
Skills
- Business growth strategy formulation
- Team Leadership
- Presentations and public speaking
- Business development
Training
- Impossible Foods' People Leader Essentials Training
- Cambridge University Judge Business School: 'Circular Economy and Sustainability Strategies'
- Planning, Selling & Negotiation Training with Uspire & Sentinel
- Kerry Foods Graduate Programme
Timeline
UK Sales Director
Impossible Foods
07.2022 - Current
Commercial Controller
Pilgrim's Food Masters
10.2021 - 07.2022
Sales Lead
Kerry Foods
01.2019 - 09.2021
Senior National Account Manager
Kerry Foods
01.2017 - 12.2018
National Account Manager
Kerry Foods
10.2013 - 12.2016
National Account Executive
Kerry Foods
09.2011 - 09.2013
Bachelor of Arts - History & Politics
The University of York
10.2008 - 07.2011
A Levels: History (A), English Literature (A), Psychology (A). GCSEs: 12 At Grade A*-A (including Mathematics And English) -
Colyton Grammar School
01.2002 - 01.2008
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