The Compleat Food Group has looked to strengthen its leadership team with the appointment of retail veteran Judith Batchelar as strategic adviser to its board.
The fast-growing manufacturer has reached £1.4bn in sales since its inception in 2001 through a series of targeted acquisitions. Batchelar has been tasked with supporting Compleat’s continued growth ambitions.
She is a well-known figure within the grocery industry. Her most high-profile role was as brand director for Sainsbury’s, a position she held for 17 years. Before that, she also held several leading roles at Safeway and Marks & Spencer.
Batchelar is a biochemist and nutritionist by training and was awarded the OBE in 2015 for her services to the farming and food industry.
She will take up her role with Compleat in May and is set to work with the board across technical, health and safety, sustainability, product, innovation and brand disciplines, providing strategic guidance and mentorship.
“Judith is an incredibly influential figure in food, manufacturing, sustainability and policy and it’s a real honour to be welcoming her to The Compleat Food Group,” said The Compleat Food Group CEO Nick Field.
“Her passion for sustainable farming, coupled with her vast knowledge across the whole breadth of the grocery industry, makes her incredibly well-positioned to support our ambitious leadership team. Her expertise will be invaluable as we continue to drive innovation and strengthen our position as leaders in creating Food to Feel Good.”
Batchelar said: “Watching The Compleat Food Group’s impressive progress over the past five years has been truly inspiring, and the prospect of contributing to their ongoing achievements was an opportunity that I simply couldn’t resist.
“I’m looking forward to working with its ambitious teams, their portfolio of innovative brands, and supporting the next phase of growth.”
Compleat owns brands including Wall’s Pastry, Pork Farms, Wrights, Unearthed, Vadasz and Squeaky Bean, and is a major own-label supplier for pastry, party and deli foods.
Some of its most recent acquisitions include The Real Yorkshire Pudding Co, Freshpak, the assets of plant-based cheesemaker Julienne Bruno and the Greencore soup and sauces factory.
Batchelar’s move adds to a number of senior appointments in 2026. In January, Nick Reade became its first UK MD, while Sue Bell also joined in the same month as chief technical officer.
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