Yakult has announced the appointment of Joe Gailani as national sales manager for the UK & Ireland to help drive the next phase of commercial growth.
Gailani will lead Yakult’s sales strategy in the UK and Ireland, focusing on strengthening existing retail partnerships, supporting sustainable category growth and increasing the brand’s availability across a wider range of channels and more consumption occasions, the brand said.
He brings more than 18 years of experience spanning national accounts, commercial strategy, customer development and channel growth across retail, wholesale, foodservice and e-commerce.
“Joe brings a breadth of commercial experience that is highly relevant to our ambitions in the UK & Ireland, particularly across national accounts, channel development and strategic customer partnerships,” said Shinji Yamaguchi, managing director at Yakult UK & Ireland. “His appointment strengthens our commercial leadership as we continue to invest in the market.”
Gailani joins Yakult from Cotswold Fayre, where he led the commercial agenda across key national retail accounts, and prior to this held roles at Bonraw Foods and Unilever.
“What really attracted me to the business was the strength of the brand and the opportunity that still exists to build on that,” said Gailani. “As consumer awareness and interest in gut health continues to grow, Yakult is well-placed to translate its long-standing expertise and research in the category into further opportunity.
“My focus is on translating that brand strength into further commercial growth by deepening customer relationships and working closely with our retail partners to ensure we are responding to their priorities and supporting sustainable growth.”
Alongside his commercial remit, Gailani will also work closely with Yakult Europe’s R&D team to support future product development.
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