USA – Greencore Group plc, a leading international manufacturer of convenience foods, has announced the appointment of Anton Vincent as CEO of Greencore USA, a subsidiary of UK-listed Greencore plc.

The company currently supplies a wide range of chilled, frozen and ambient foods to the leading retail and food service customers in the UK and US.

Headquartered in Dublin, Ireland, it employs approximately 15,000 people in 28 manufacturing facilities across the UK and the US.

On average, it manufactures around 1.5 billion sandwiches, over 600 million salad and lunch kits, and 140 million entrees every year and is a lead assembly and co-manufacturing partner for a roster of blue chip US CPG brands.

Anton joined the Group on 9 July 2018 and reports into Greencore Group CEO, Patrick Coveney.

He has over 20 years’ leadership in the US food manufacturing industry and brings strong US food industry relationships to the Group.

The company added that he joins Greencore from General Mills, where he most recently was the President of their US$3 billion US Snacks division.

Anton began his career at General Mills in 1993, progressing through leadership roles including executive roles as President of Frozen Frontier division and President of Baking division.

He was a member of the corporate operating committee and board member of General Mills’ 301 Inc.

Anton’s early career experiences include leadership roles at MCI Telecommunications (now Verizon) and Fidelity Investments. He is also a former Applebee’s International franchisee.

Anton graduated with an MBA from the Kelley School of Business at Indiana University and BBA in Finance from Sam Houston State University. He is a native of Jackson, Mississippi.

Anton will lead Greencore US from its US headquarters in Chicago, with an existing footprint that includes 13 plant locations across the US.

“Greencore has a differential value proposition that positions it as an invaluable partner in helping diverse, large scale customers innovate to serve rapidly evolving food values around the globe,” said Anton Vincent, Greencore US CEO, speaking about his new role.

“The investment in the US market is a key driver in Greencore’s global growth efforts and I’m excited to be a part of this growth focused, global organization.”

Since entering the US market in 2008, Greencore has grown rapidly to become a leading manufacturer of convenience food products for many of the largest US food brands, convenience retail and food service leaders.

It produces a wide range of fresh, frozen and ambient products including sandwiches, meal kits and salad kits.

It has a well invested network of high quality, scale facilities which supports the Group’s ambitions to grow in value added, assembly-led, convenience food manufacturing.

“Since February 2018, we have stabilised performance, refined our strategy and strengthened our team in the US.

Anton will help us to build on momentum in the US, as we drive substantial growth and improve returns in our US business,” said Mr Patrick Coveney, Group CEO of Greencore, commenting on the appointment.

“He brings outstanding leadership skills, deep commercial expertise and strong US food industry relationships.

I, together with other Group leaders, look forward to working closely with Anton to deliver on Greencore’s exciting strategic, performance and cultural agenda.”