Skip to content
Search
AI Powered
Latest Stories

Kingsland Drinks Group strengthens senior team with new commercial director

Kingsland Drinks Group strengthens senior team with new commercial director

Kingsland Drinks Group has announced the appointment of Mark Riley as its new Commercial Director.

Riley joins from Bibendum, part of the C&C Group, where he served as Commercial Director. He will take up the role at Kingsland this week.


He brings 25 years of drinks industry experience across sales, commercial and supply chain, having held senior seats at Heineken/Waverley TBS and Scottish & Newcastle.

With well-seasoned experience in the marketing of brands – from innovation to launch at a global and UK level - Riley takes on responsibility for the complete commercial operation of Kingsland Drinks Group including sales, marketing, and liquid buying.

He joins the senior team at Kingsland, which moved to an employee-owned model in 2021 and has significantly invested in its capabilities and infrastructure to become a full-service drinks company.

Jon Eagle, Kingsland’s existing commercial director, and buying director and shareholder Karen Wilson, will lead thorough the transition in the coming months before Eagle retires and Wilson transitions to a Board advisory role.

“Mark brings true pedigree in the marketing of products and the leadership of high performing sales teams to the company, at a time when we’re focused on building our capabilities and realising the potential of our investment pipeline. With a legacy for developing talent, strong analytical expertise and experience across the industry, he’s a hugely welcome addition to the Group,” Ed Baker, Managing Director of Kingsland Drinks Group, said.

“Jon, while taking well-earned retirement this year, is lending the benefit of his expertise to us for some time yet, as he kindly supports senior transitions across the business. We appreciate Jon’s experience and input at this time, and he’ll be truly missed when he leaves the company.”

This month Kingsland Drinks Group also welcomed Andy Henderson who has joined the business as Operations Director, heading up factory operations, technical and supply chain functions. Henderson will play a pivotal role alongside Riley in building on the business’s reputation as a trusted, strong, and stable player in the UK drinks trade offering a full category service.

The pair are also joined by Jason Wallace, Head of Supply Chain, who joined Kingsland in July from John West Foods where he was Head of Supply Chain UK & IE and responsible for leading the end-to-end supply chain for its UK, Ireland and export networks.

In July, Kingsland Drinks announced a long-term partnership with Manchester Still and investment in a craft spirit facility on its site in Irlam, Greater Manchester. The facility will provide Kingsland Drinks and its sister company Ten Locks with the ability to produce artisan spirits and marks a new development in the firm’s capabilities as a full-service drinks company.

More for you

Budget 2024: Local shops to face significant new pressure

(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

(Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images)

Budget 2024: Local shops to face significant new pressure

Local shops will face significant new pressures as a result of today’s Budget, the Association of Convenience Stores (ACS) has warned.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves' budget's impact will be felt unevenly across the UK’s 50,000 convenience stores, with some measures such as business rate relief and the increased employment allowance mitigating costs for smaller independent stores, while providing no help for chains and larger independent businesses.

Keep ReadingShow less
Post Office cash deposits and withdrawals
Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services
Post Office, DPD partners to rollout ‘Click and Collect’ services

Parliament to launch inquiry into Post Office Horizon scandal compensation delays

Parliament is to launch an inquiry into delays in compensation settlements for sub postmasters affected by the Horizon scandal.

The newly-formed Business and Trade Select Committee will call ministers, subpostmasters and their lawyers to give evidence next week with a second session to follow in mid-November. The Committee’s chair, Liam Byrne MP told ITV News that there was “definitely a delay” in people coming forward for payment.

Keep ReadingShow less
Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Bacup Wine and Convenience shop, 34 Burnley Road, Bacup.

Robbie MacDonald via LDRS

Shop’s licence bid rejected over illegal vapes and ‘no regard’ for children’s safety

A Rossendale shop has had a licence bid rejected after repeatedly selling vapes to children and having illegal products on its premises.

Management at the Ibra Superstore at 34 Burnley Road, Bacup, have shown ‘no regard’ for children’s protection and safety, and have insufficient controls for licensing, Rossendale councillors have ruled.

Keep ReadingShow less
SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR retailer hits target to secure £100,000 free stock from James Hall

SPAR North of England retailer Dara Singh Randhawa’s family store has been awarded £100,000 of free stock after hitting all his targets since moving to the symbol.

Dara and his family, who have their SPAR store in Patrington in the East Riding of Yorkshire, joined SPAR through its association with James Hall & Co. Ltd in August 2023 having taken the decision to maximise the store’s potential.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pound Sterling bank notes
iStock

National Living Wage to increase to £12.21 in April 2025

The government has on Wednesday announced its acceptance of the Low Pay Commission’s (LPC) recommendations on the rates of the National Minimum Wage (NMW), including the National Living Wage (NLW).

The rates which will apply from 1 April 2025 are as follows:

Keep ReadingShow less