The former chief executive of supermarket Asda has been named as the new chair of Downpatrick food manufacturer Finnebrogue Artisan.
Roger Burnley left Asda in August 2021 after serving at the upper echelons of the supermarket and previously as executive director of Sainsburys.
He takes over as interim chair Colin Walsh the deputy chair who stepped into the role following the death of Finnebrogue founder Denis Lynn in early 2021.
Mr Burnley’s appointment comes during a period of sustained growth for the business which made a name for itself producing sausages for major supermarkets before diversifying into nitrate-free bacon and now a range of meat-free products. It employs 1,300 people at its County Down site and has grown turnover to £163 million in 2021 from £4.5 million in 2009.
Christine Lynn, the majority shareholder in the company and wife of Mr Lynne, welcomed Mr Burnley.
Roger shares our passion for making food the best it can be, without being bound by the way it has always been done,” she said. “He brings with him the immense experience of over thirty years in British retailing, including four years leading one of the UK’s biggest supermarkets during the most challenging period for grocery in recent memory.
“He will be a great asset to our team as we seek to fulfil our ‘Finnebrogue 2030’ vision for food that doesn’t cost the Earth.”
Mr Burnley said he was looking forward to working with Finnebrogue Artisan.
“I am delighted to be joining Finnebrogue, a business which I have long admired from afar, with a passionate and talented team and a clear mission to deliver the ‘Finnebrogue 2030’ vision for the future of food, which has captured my imagination.
“Finnebrogue’s outstanding growth, constant innovation and reputation for unrivalled product quality is famous within the UK food community, and I’m looking forward to working closely with the team to deliver long term and sustainable growth.”
