Typhoo appoints former Burts Snacks chief as new CEO 

UK tea brand Typhoo has named Dave McNulty, former CEO of Burts Snacks, as its new chief executive.

McNulty steps into the role at a crucial time for Typhoo, as the company navigates a period of significant transformation. He replaces Andrew Reardon, who will transition to a non-executive director role.

McNulty brings a wealth of experience, having held key positions at SHS Group and within Coca-Cola’s system before his time at Burts Snacks, where he led the company for four years, first as Managing Director and then as CEO. His leadership at Burts coincided with the UK crisp maker's acquisition by Europe Snacks last year.

Before joining Burt Snacks, McNulty held senior roles at Coca-Cola Enterprises, including director of marketing for energy drinks and trading director for the out-of-home channel. He was managing director at SHS Drinks for three years.

In a statement, McNulty expressed his enthusiasm for the opportunity, noting that he had joined Typhoo at a "pivotal moment" in its evolution.

McNulty said: "Tea is undeniably a cornerstone of British culture. But what happens behind the scenes is largely unknown. We want to empower consumers, providing them with the tools to make informed choices when purchasing their tea. I’m really looking forward to working with such a brilliant team, and really making an impact."

Typhoo has made changes to its recipe and "overhauled" its supply chain to raise awareness of sexual exploitation on tea plantations. The group says the changes in its supply chain "guarantee greater control over the quality and taste of the final blend".

Typhoo Tea’s Chair, Mike Brehme, welcomed McNulty’s appointment, commenting, "We are thrilled to have Dave on board as we begin this important journey. His track record speaks for itself, and we look forward to seeing the progress under his leadership."

The leadership change comes during a challenging period for Typhoo, as the company reported pre-tax losses of £37.9m for the year ended September 2023, a sharp increase from the £9.6m loss reported the previous year. Revenue also fell from £33.6m to £25.3m over the same period. The company attributed these figures to exceptional costs, including one-off expenses tied to its transformation plan, which aims to address significant legacy and structural issues within the business.