British vertical farm operator Fischer Farms has appointed former Moy Park boss Chris Kirke as its new CEO.
Kirke, who has more than 26 years’ experience in the fmcg market in both the US and UK, will manage the day-to-day operations of Fischer Farms.
His main focus was the strategic direction of the business, while he would also “play a key role in nurturing relationships with existing and new customers”, Fischer Farms said.
The business added he would work with Fischer Farms founder Tristan Fischer and chairman John Stapleton “to grow the existing Fischer Farms business, as well as expanding opportunities with Fischer Farms Foods and Fischer Farms Technology”.
Both Fischer and Kirke would also work together to raise the profile of the business among current and potential investors and stakeholders, it said.
Fischer – who is moving into a group CEO role – will maintain his position as “the visionary of the company and drive global expansion”, the business added, focusing on future activities, including innovation and R&D, as well as overseeing brand and culture development.
Fischer Farms opened what it described as the “world’s biggest” vertical farm, in Norfolk, late last year, and had “a big appetite for expansion”, Kirke said.
He joins the business after six years leading Moy Park. He left the poultry giant in March as part of a major boardroom reshuffle by owner Pilgrim’s Pride as it restructured its main UK businesses, which also include Pilgrim’s UK and Pilgrim’s Food Masters, under the Pilgrim’s Europe umbrella.
Kirke also spent over a decade with Greencore US, holding both managing director and CEO roles, producing convenience food products for some of the largest retailers and brands demonstrating his ability to meet diverse market demands.
“It is an exciting time to join Fischer Farms, as the business continues to scale, expand its production from leafy greens to a future producing soft fruit, rice, wheat, soy and pease,” Kirke said.
The business was now attracting “widespread commercial interest from major retailers and foodservice providers” for its products, he added.
“Vertical farming offers real promise when it comes to creating a more sustainable food supply chain, delivering high-quality fresh produce, with minimal impact on the planet. It is fantastic to be part of the vertical farming revolution, and through my work here at Fischer Farms, I hope to be able to play my part in shaping the future of the industry as a whole.”
Kirke’s knowledge and experience of the food sector, particularly in the US, would be “invaluable” as the business scaled up and looked to overseas expansion plans, Fischer said.
“While Chris focuses on the today, I will be focusing on the tomorrow, continuing to drive forward Fischer Farms’ ultimate goal – to safeguard food security on a global scale,” he added. “This strategic move positions Fischer Farms to meet the growing demand for sustainable, locally produced food while delivering value to our investors and partners.”
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