Burton’s Foods has bolstered its team with two high-level appointments.

The food manufacturer, which produces brands such as Jammie Dodgers, Maryland Cookies and Cadbury biscuits, has promoted Ben Arnold to the newly created role of head of research & development and has appointed Paul Davidson as head of quality and food safety.

Arnold is a Burton’s veteran and was most recently factory general manager at the company’s Llantarnam site in Cwmbran, Wales. In his new role he will have overall responsibility for Burton’s 20-strong research & development team, including innovation, process capabilities and packaging development.

Arnold will also be expected to continue a string of successful launches from Burton’s in recent months, ­including the relaunch of Jammie Dodgers and a ­toffee variant.

Davidson, meanwhile, joins Burton’s Foods from Premier Foods where he was a senior technical manager for the company’s technical and hygiene function. In his new role he will oversee quality assurance and control, including lab and consumer services and supplier audits. Both Arnold and Davidson take up their new roles with ­immediate effect.

Burton’s Foods chief supply chain officer Neil Grocock said the appointments showed Burton’s ambition to grow its branded offer through enhanced innovation and high quality standards.

“Our upweighted organisational capabilities in quality and R&D functions will significantly support Burton’s Food’s focus on power brands as we further strengthen our position,” he said. “The senior capabilities we’ve brought on board will provide an extra layer of expertise and both Ben and Paul will no doubt contribute greatly.”

The appointments come hot on the heels of two marketing appointments. Last month, the company named former Wrigley UK marketing director Toby Baker as head of chocolate biscuits and former General Mills UK marketer Emma Clacher as marketing ­manager for Cadbury’s Chocolate Fingers.

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