Cumbria-based baker Bells of Lazonby has appointed Rob Keeping as MD, replacing Tim Conder.
Effective from September, Keeping will join the third-generation family business from Bread Holdings, where he is currently MD for the north-west. He will relocate to Cumbria from Greater Manchester.
Conder, meanwhile, will move on to pastures new after nearly four years at the helm, having played an “integral part” in Bells of Lazonby’s “rapid growth in conventional sweet bakery, free-from and the We Love Cake portfolio”, according to the business.
Keeping started his career in the military and served in various locations around the world, employed to manage sensitive and historic investigations, including specialised roles.
In 2013, he became head of operations for Exeter Street Cafes & Wholesale. Keeping then joined Caprice Holdings in 2016, supporting the growth of well-known brands such as Ivy, Balthazar Restaurant and Bakery in London and New York.
In 2017, Keeping joined Bread Holdings as MD for the north-west, where he focused on growing foodservice, grocery and supporting Gail’s surge from 25 stores to more than 170 stores nationwide.
Under Keeping’s leadership, Bread Holdings’ northern revenue has rocketed by 300%. As a director and shareholder, he has seen the business grow to £300m and employ over 3,500 people nationally.
“Bells of Lazonby is a business with quality at its core, both in retail and in foodservice,” said Keeping.
“Coming into role, I am keen to explore new capabilities for the bakery, to drive growth in the free-from and conventional private label space and push further innovation in own brands.”
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