Simon Richardson, a farmer by birth, an engineer by qualification and a Sales and Business professional by experience!
After studying Mechanical Engineering, Simon joined Unilever on their graduate training scheme, and following a year of management training, spent time as a Production Manager at Walls Ice Cream facility in Gloucester. He later joined Arkady, then owned by American company ADM, first spending three years in field sales, before taking on a head office role in CS&L in Manchester.
Arkady was subsequently purchased by Unilever so he was back in the group and remained part of Unilever’s Bakery division until it was subsequently sold to the Dutch sugar company CSM. During this time he worked as a Retail National Account Manager, a Business Unit Manager for Branded Concepts and finally headed up their Retail Division. He then took some time to gain more traditional branded product experience in the Soft Drinks category, working with the Aqua Pura bottled water brand.
Simon joined Rich’s in 2004, which at that time, was a relatively small “Cookies and Cream” company here in the UK. During the last seven years as Sales/Sales & Marketing Director, he has driven industry leading four fold company growth and really helped to put Rich’s on the map. Simon describes this time as fast paced, a period of continual change and adaptation, but has enjoyed the excitement of working with many fantastic customers along the way.
2012 offers another new challenge for Simon as he takes on a European role as Commercial Director. With everything to play for, Rich’s has modest export sales and a small but dedicated team.
On the home front, Simon has a tolerant and supportive wife Tina, and two children plus a garage full of boys toys including three off road trials bikes and numerous mountain bikes to enjoy in his spare time!