PLACE UK LTD AND PHASEOLUS LTD ANNOUNCE NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR

Place UK Ltd and Phaseolus Ltd has announced the appointment of Pieter van Egmond as Managing Director, following the decision by current MD Tim Place to step back from the role and concentrate on his role as Chairman of parent company R&JM Place.  Mr van Egmond joined the Norfolk-based company in 2018 as Farm Director. 

Mr Place, who joined the family-owned business in 1985, taking over from his father as Managing Director in 2000, said, “I am delighted to announce Pieter as our new Managing Director.  He joined the business two and a half years ago with a proven track record for growing and developing a number of businesses, and during his time here he has shown himself to be a great leader.

“His appointment will enable the business to move into its next stage of growth.  We have a strong management team which under Pieter’s leadership will continue to operate and grow under the guiding principles and core values that we have established over more than 70 years.”

Mr van Egmond comes from a horticultural background and grew up working for a Spalding based family business set up by his Dutch great grandfather.  Following graduation from Harper Adams, he has developed his career across a number of senior commercial and management roles, and was formerly MD of Hammond Produce in Nottinghamshire.

“I am delighted to be taking on this role at Place UK Ltd and Phaseolus Ltd, at an exciting time for the business,” said Mr van Egmond.  “My twin aims will be to provide continuity and preserve all that has made the business so successful over seven decades, while taking it forward into a new phase of growth over the coming years.

“We will continue to innovate, capitalise on new technology, and extend our growing season, while increasing further the sustainability of what we do.  The business has always succeeded by responding to changing consumer demand, and the increased focus on plant-based and pulse-based foods presents us with great opportunities for growth.”

Place UK Ltd is one of the UK’s leading growers and processors of high quality soft fruits for major British retailers as part of the UK’s biggest soft fruit marketing group, Berry Gardens.  The business is based in Tunstead, Norfolk.

The company is also one of the leading British processors and suppliers of both organic and conventional food stuffs including retail frozen fruit, cooked and frozen pasta, pulses and rice.

Sister company Phaseolus Ltd, based in Cambridgeshire, supplies a range of individually quick frozen beans, pulses, and grains for the food manufacturing and food service sectors.