Sainsbury's plans to recruit 12,000 temporary staff to work in its stores over the Christmas period. Each of its 823 stores will employ between 10 and 40 staff from mid-November to January for bag-packing, check-out and shelf stacking roles.

Andy Brent, director of the Department of Health’s £75m obesity initiative, has left after just five months. He has been appointed group brand marketing director at BSkyB and will start next month.

CJ Lang & Son has promoted wholesale controller Grant Scrimgeour, who has worked for the company for 25 years, to wholesale director. Wholesale trading manager Danny Turner takes over as wholesale trading controller.

Paypoint has appointed Steve Rowley and Eric Anstee as non-executive directors. Rowley is currently chief executive of IT solutions company Anite, while Anstee is a non-executive director of the Financial Reporting Council, Insight Asset Management and Vision Media Group.

Aimia Foods, the beverages supplier, has promoted Steve Johnson to business development director. Johnson, who has been with Aimia since 1986, is to head up the firm’s outsourcing and co-packing operations.

Hancocks purchasing director Richard Brittle is to retire at the end of this month, to be replaced as head of buying by Jonathan Summerley. “I have enjoyed my time with Hancocks immensely, but I have many things I now want to do in my life and to find time to do them I have to retire,” said Brittle, who has worked for the confectionery firm for 40 years.

The English Provender Company has appointed Sally Haydock to the newly created role of category manager to the salad dressings and marinades sector. Haydock was formerly brand manager for EPC before taking a two-year career break to look after her young family.

Associated British Foods has appointed Charles Sinclair as an independent non-executive director. Sinclair is currently chief executive of Daily Mail and General Trust, but will retire from this role and the board on 30 September.