Independent contract caterer, Wilson Vale, has expanded its board of directors by appointing Claire Long as sales director. Claire joined the company on Monday 3 March to become the fifth member of the board. Her appointment comes just nine months after Wilson Vale appointed Alan Beddie as operations director.
Before joining Wilson Vale, Claire was strategic partnership director with Compass Group UK & Ireland for over six years, during which time she was responsible for a portfolio of Compass Group’s top 300 clients within the business and industry sector. The role involved a strategic approach to retaining and extending contracts through building strong client relationships and identifying new sales and service opportunities.
Prior to that, she worked as business development manager with Roux Fine Dining, Leith’s, Eurest and for Restaurant Associates during its fledgling days, securing major contract gains for the company and regularly surpassing sales targets. Earlier in her career, she held the roles of general manager with Roux Restaurants Ltd and operations manager with Roux Fine Dining and Leith’s Management.
Commenting on her appointment, Andrew Wilson, co-founder and managing director of Wilson Vale, said: “We are confident that Claire’s pedigree and reputation within this highly competitive sector will impact positively on our growth and development. Her additional operational experience gives her insight and understanding into the challenges and practicalities of running a busy catering operation.
”Our growth strategy is all about steady growth while protecting our fresh food ethos and values. By developing the board, we now have a team of talented and experienced individuals to help us to realise that vision.”
Wilson Vale is projecting an annual turnover of £19.5m for 2014. The independent caterer employs 550 and has 75 clients within the B&I, independent schools and conference venue sectors. For five years, year-on-year growth has averaged at 12 per cent, yet its culture and ethos have remained unchanged.