Organic retailer As Nature Intended has created a new operations director role to help with its expansion plans.

Daniel Upward has been brought in from Tesco to work alongside managing director Caroline Walker to help grow the business. He is charged with managing the retail team and looking for new site acquisitions.

As Nature Intended currently operates across three London stores - in Balham, Chiswick and Ealing Broadway - but plans to open at least one more by the end of the year. It is

currently looking for retail sites within the M25 in areas such as Richmond, Muswell Hill and Hammersmith.

Upward has been working as an area manager at Tesco for the past 18 months. Prior to that he spent six-and-a-half years at Marks & Spencer in a variety of roles, spending some time in head office, at its Marble Arch branch and running a 70,000 sq ft store.

"Daniel will be a huge asset to As Nature Intended," said Walker.