Meat wholesaler makes senior appointment

A fast expanding meat wholesaler has appointed a sales and marketing manager with an exceptional pedigree in the industry.

Grassroots Foods Ltd, in Nelson, Lancashire, has appointed Trevor Bellis, who boasts decades of management level experience in the meat trade.

The wholesale foods supplier has recently moved into a brand new 58,000 sq ft facility and now employs over 90 staff at their headquarters.

Trevor comes on board to provide strategic sales and marketing direction to the business, which to date has grown 250% year on year and boasts a turnover in excess of £16m.

The business supplies products to national online retailers such as Hello Fresh and regional luxury restaurants like Northcote and is looking to expand further into foodservices, catering and restaurant chains.

Trevor joins Grassroots having risen through the ranks within the retail and meat industry. Possessing a wealth of industry knowledge he is well known and respected throughout the industry.

From the start of his career as butchery manager for the Co-op Trevor climbed the ladder internally to become Category Buying Manager for The Co-operative Group from 1980 through to 2006.

In 2006 he left the buying arena moving into sales working with two of the largest food agri producers, Dunbia as a National Accounts Manager and Vion as Account Sales Director to the Co-operative Group.

In recent years, Trevor moved back in to a purchasing role, as a Senior Buying Manager for Birtwistles Catering Butchers and more latterly commercial manager at Janan Meat Ltd.

Simon Mellin, founder and managing director said: “Trevor joins Grassroots at an exciting time of growth and brings with him a wealth of industry experience from some of the major players.

“As we expand and start the process for BRC approval, his knowledge will help us refine our offering and establish ourselves as a key supplier to the catering and retail sector across the UK.”

Trevor said: “I’m hugely excited to be joining such a rapidly expanding business and using my wealth of industry and trading knowledge to help take the business to the next level through strategic sales which meet Grassroots’ ambitious commercial goals. “There is a huge passion and enthusiasm throughout the business and a real hunger to drive innovation within the industry. With their idea and my experience, we can ensure an efficient and streamlined process for all our customers for years to come”.