David Flochel, who has held several international leadership roles with major food and drink companies like Mars Drinks (Mars Inc.), Selecta Group, and Heineken UK, is set to become the new CEO of Quorn Foods. He will take on the role next month as Marco Bertacca steps down after five years at the helm.
Bertacca has led Quorn Foods since January 2020, steering the company through a series of challenging times, including the global pandemic, rising inflation, and the ongoing cost-of-living crisis.
More recently, Marco Bertacca's tenure at Quorn Foods has been marked by the launch of the Marlow Ingredients division, aimed at expanding the company's portfolio. Additionally, under his leadership, QuornPro, the company’s foodservice arm, forged a significant partnership with the NHS to promote the adoption of meat alternatives. This collaboration includes offering both hybrid options and fully meat-free products.
“I would like to extend a huge thanks to the entire team for all the incredible things we’ve achieved in the five years I have been with the business,”? he said. “Despite the challenges with overall growth in the last few years, we have improved Quorn retail market share, achieved yearly growth in our Foodservice & QSR business, and launched the new Marlow Ingredients business unit. It’s been a huge privilege and honour to have played a part in accelerating Quorn’s mission to tackle climate change through great tasting, sustainable food.”
Commenting on Flochel’s appointment, Betacca added that he knows “Quorn is in good hands”.?
“David is bringing an incredible depth of knowledge and experience into the company, and we are already working closely together to ensure a smooth transition,” ?he said.
David Flochel will assume the role of CEO at Quorn Foods in November, transitioning from his position at the consumer health company Haelon. This move comes shortly after Haelon confirmed the completion of its sale to Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories SA, a subsidiary of the global pharmaceutical company Dr. Reddy’s Laboratories Limited, based in India.
The leadership change at Quorn Foods comes in the wake of the company's recent financial report, which revealed a £63m pre-tax loss. This loss has been primarily attributed to high administrative expenses and increased selling and distribution costs.
In addition to its financial losses, Quorn Foods experienced a 6.9% revenue decline between 2022 and 2023. This drop was largely driven by a reduced demand for meat-free products in both the UK and US, as consumers faced the pressures of the cost-of-living crisis.
Despite the challenges, Circana data reveals that Quorn and Cauldron maintain a significant presence in the UK's meat-free market, with the two brands collectively accounting for a third of the category's total value.
Speaking about his new role, David Flochel noted that while Quorn Foods has a 'strong history of success,' the upcoming year will involve a 'reset' for the company.
“This is a brilliant opportunity to transform the business into the next stage of its journey and I am delighted to be taking on this new role. I believe that with the right focus and execution we can turn around the company and current category performance,” he added.
