Vegware has appointed Helen Mathieson as its new managing director, as founder Joe Frankel steps down after more than 15 years building the business.
She joined the Edinburgh-based packaging company in 2018 as supply chain and operations director, overseeing all aspects of products, from ideation and manufacture through to logistics and client services.
Prior to this, Mathieson was operations director at fashion brand Lyle and Scott. Originally from Yorkshire, she started her career in consumer goods sales as an account manager at Nestlé.
“I have been lucky to spend a great four years working alongside the company’s founder Joe Frankel, and I’m proud to be taking over the reins of this global brand - we have a fantastic team, exceptionally strong client relationships, and a lot of exciting innovations for 2023,” she commented.
Working alongside her, Vegware’s new leadership team comprises environmental and communications director Lucy Frankel, sales director Dave Smith, commercial director Oliver Elsner and finance director Llinos Appleford.
Vegware makes more than 500 food service catering disposables made from plant-based materials, including drinks cups, takeaway food containers and cutlery.
This year's product launches included paper cutlery and Nourish moulded fibre takeaway boxes, which are certified for home or industrial composting.
Vegware has established partnerships with waste collectors around the UK, while also setting up Close the Loop, its own waste composting service for businesses in Edinburgh, Glasgow, Fife, Dundee and surrounding areas.
Next year will see continued engagement with the Compostable Coalition UK research project, which entails Vegware working with behaviour change experts from the University of Sheffield, London waste collector Recorra and in-vessel composting facility EnVar, to help diners choose the right bin for compostable packaging.
Established in 2006, Vegware now sells to more than 80 countries and has set up operational bases in the US, Australia and Hong Kong, with distribution throughout Europe, the Middle East and Caribbean.
Last August, Vegware was bought by Novolex, an international food and industrial packaging company, based in the US.
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