Sainsbury’s head of own-label product development and innovation Claire Hughes, has stepped down after seven years with the company.

Hughes, who joined from M&S in 2018, is widely credited with leading the transformation of Sainsbury’s own-brand offer, boosting innovation output, growing the Taste the Difference line to over £1.8bn, and championing plastic packaging reductions across its range.

Speaking about her departure on the social media platform LinkedIn, she cited personal reasons, but thanked her team at the supermarket giant.

She said: “After 7 incredible years, I have said farewell to Sainsbury’s. The last 7 years have been an amazing journey full of purpose, challenge and working with brilliant people but I’ve decided to take a break to focus on family.”

Subscribe to Grocery Gazette for free

Sign up here to get the latest grocery and food news each morning

“Looking back, I’m proud of what we achieved in my time there, rebuilding the innovation team, tripling our rate of innovation, growing Taste the Difference to over £1.8bn and championing plastic reduction across packaging.

“None of which would have been possible without the energy and support of amazing colleagues across Sainsbury’s and the supplier network. I’ve learnt so much from all of you and will miss working with you, especially my brilliant team,” she added.

James Campbell, current director of fresh product innovation, is set to succeed Hughes in the newly created role of Director of Product and Innovationpackaging

Hughes’ exit comes follows Sainsbury’s in April appointing former-M&S Katie Bickerstaffe and Steve Hare to its board as non-executive directors.