Pladis has announced the appointment of former Kerry executive Frankgerald Stepp as chief supply chain officer, effective from January 2027.

He will oversee the company’s global end-to-end supply chain across over 110 markets and work on a multi-year transformation plan.

Stepp succeeds Mario Reis, who is set to retire at the end of the year following a nearly ten-year tenure at the FMCG manufacturer.

He brings years of FMCG experience to the role, most recently working as chief operations officer and global VP of manufacturing at Kerry Group.

Additionally, he previously worked in senior leadership positions at Kraft Foods and Mondelez International and managed operations across Mondelez’s European business.

Pladis’ chief HR officer, Geraldine Fraser, said: “Frankgerald brings significant baking industry expertise, international experience and a strong track record of leading complex organisations. He joins us at an important point in our journey and will build on the strong foundations already in place as we focus on the next phase of growth.”

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Stepp, added: “Pladis has built an impressive portfolio of brands and a strong manufacturing network across its markets.

“I’m looking forward to joining the business and working with colleagues around the world to build on that foundation and support the company’s long-term ambitions.”

This comes as the business has been making significant investments in its supply chain network and manufacturing capabilities.

Last year Pladis launched a £68m investment programme aimed at upgrading its UK manufacturing operations to lower its carbon footprint.

Additionally, last week the business expanded its use of rainwater harvesting technology at its logistics site as it aims to improve its sustainability efforts.