Snack bar manufacturer Wholebake has appointed John McMullen as CEO to take the business through its next stage of growth.
McMullen succeeded Peter Unsworth, who stepped down but remained with the company as a non-executive.
McMullen has previously held senior technical, operational and general management roles at major blue-chip fmcg players, including Heinz, Princes and Unilever.
Over the past decade, he has led turnarounds at Baxters Food Group and G’s Fresh, which Wholebake said built on “a strong track record of guiding organisations through periods of growth and transformation”.
The appointment follows significant recent investment in the business, including the opening of Wholebake’s 73,000 sq ft manufacturing facility in Wrexham.
Wholebake added McMullen would lead the company through its next stage of growth and strengthen its manufacturing, innovation and operational capabilities.
“I am delighted to have joined Wholebake at such a defining moment in its journey,” McMullen said.
“The healthy snacking category continues to evolve at pace, with significant opportunities for growth across the UK, Europe and beyond.
“Wholebake has built a strong reputation for quality, innovation and partnership, and I am looking forward to working with the team to build on these strengths. Creating an environment where people feel trusted, empowered and proud of what they deliver will be central to how we achieve our ambitions.”
Wholebake manufactures a range of baked and cold-pressed products for brands and retailers across three sites in North Wales.
The business has been backed by private equity investor Elysian Capital since 2021.
In 2023, Wholebake sold its own-label cereal business to Weetabix as it sought to simplify operations as part of a turnaround strategy.
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