Gill P

Source: Pukka

Pendergrast has experience working for a host of fmcg brands, including Meatless Farm, Bernard Matthews and 2 Sisters

Pukka is boosting its senior team with a new head of retail.

The pie maker has appointed Gill Pendergrast in the newly created role, which she started on 4 January.

Prior to joining Pukka, she held the role of UK sales director at plant-based pioneer Meatless Farm, and has also worked for Bernard Matthews and 2 Sisters Food Group.

In her new role as head of retail, Pendergrast will focus on developing retail strategies to propel the brand into its next chapter of “explosive growth”, said Pukka.

Pukka general manager Isaac Fisher said the business was “rapidly growing” and that it was essential to have the right team to maximise the opportunity and continue growing.

“Our vision is to put more pies on more plates more often and we’ll be spearheading further growth in the hot pie category during 2021 with a raft of first-to-market NPD and best-in-class marketing initiatives,” he added.

The appointment follows a year of growth for Pukka, which saw sales increase 19.1% to £43.4m, on volumes up 8.8%.