Glisten's Poppets

Raisio has grown internationally through acquisition

Rob Davies, the former FD and co-owner of Glisten, has left parent company Raisio in the latest phase of a management reshuffle.

After Glisten was sold to Benecol owner Raisio in 2010, Davies stayed on and was promoted last year to become FD of a new pan-European consumer brands division.

Raisio has grown internationally through acquisition in recent years. It bought Honey Monster owner Big Bear Group in 2011 and Czech confectionery brand Candy Plus a year later.

As FD of the consumer brands division, Davies worked on the integration of those businesses and the creation of a new company structure.

Previously, Raisio was organised into different geographical business units, whereas now it is split by business function. Alongside the consumer brands division, there are licensed brands and agro divisions.

Davies founded snacks and confectionery business Glisten with former CEO Paul Simmonds in June 2002.

Simmonds also stayed on after the sale to Raisio, initially as head of the Western Europe food business and then as vice president of consumer brands.

However, after six months in the new role, Simmonds decided to step down in March this year and now works part-time as a senior advisor to the company.

He was replaced by Vincent Poujardieu, who was heading up the newly created licensed brands division, which comprised just Benecol.

Within consumer brands, Mark Adcock is head of confectionery, Western Europe, and Robin Williams is head of food, Western Europe.

This autumn, Raisio announced the closure of two factories making confectionery and snacks - in Tywyn, Wales, and Skegness, Lincolnshire. Production is being transferred to other sites in the UK and the Czech Republic.