Neil has spent 25 years in various parts of the food production industry. Neil started as a trainee miller and baker with Rank Hovis McDougall (RHM) before moving in to sales to small shops and finally selling to multiples for their in store bakeries. After RHM, Neil became Sales Director of Danone, a French food business then MD of their Irish subsidiary before moving to Wm Jackson in Hull as MD of their Yorkshire pudding business Aunt Bessie’s.

Neil took Aunt Bessie’s from £75m pa sales to £150m pa sales in 4 years adding several new products such as roast potatoes and chips on the way and launching a new range of food supplements under the David Beckham brand. Neil’s final job was as MD of Fleurets UK which is an E4.6 billion French farmers cooperative.