Wessanen appoints new international sales director to drive overseas sales growth

Camberley, Surrey

Summary

To help drive the Wessanen's overseas sales, David Caré has been appointed to lead the international sales team and build greater global awareness of the company's portfolio of UK and European brands.

Pioneering, natural food company Wessanen has recruited a new international sales director as the business continues to grow its overseas sales.

Wessanen has appointed David Caré to head up its international sales team and deliver a targeted strategy that will look to build greater global awareness for Wessanen’s portfolio of brands. This includes UK favourites Clipper Teas, Whole Earth, Kallø and Mrs Crimble’s alongside other core European brands such as Isola Bio – the leading dairy-alternative brand in Italy and Brazil – and Bjorg, popular in the French organic market.

David will be based in the Wessanen UK head office in Camberley, Surrey, and will support the company’s strategic growth in key markets including North America and Latin America – with particular focus on Brazil – the Nordics and the Middle East.

With over 15 years of international sales and marketing experience, David Caré joins the company from Nando’s. Prior to that he spent eight years with Associated British Foods, specialising in hot drinks.

David Caré, International Sales Director at Wessanen, comments:

“What I like about Wessanen is that it’s a company that really goes the extra mile to do the right thing. Everything the business does is centred around a core mission of Healthier Food, Healthier People and Healthier Planet. This really resonates with me. I joined the company because I want to raise awareness for Wessanen globally and expand the company’s footprint worldwide. My ambition is to make Wessanen an even bigger global player.”

Ann Chambers, HR Director at Wessanen UK, adds:

“International sales is essential to Wessanen’s brands, and David’s appointment will allow us to unlock the potential in various markets overseas and drive further growth. His extensive background and knowledge of the tea industry is particularly invaluable as we look to continue the fantastic growth that Clipper Teas has enjoyed internationally.”

Clipper, the Fairtrade and organic tea brand, has been well received in international markets due to its natural, fair and delicious proposition. Clipper is sold in 52 countries worldwide and overseas volumes have grown exponentially.

60% of Clipper's annual turnover was attributed to international markets in 2016, driven mainly by France, Germany, Benelux and Scandinavia. Another of Wessanen UK’s key brands, Whole Earth has enjoyed similar success in Europe and also the Middle East with 20% of sales coming from outside the UK.

Wessanen UK’s most recent acquisition, gluten-free brand Mrs Crimble’s, is also very successful in global markets, with an imminent rebrand set to launch soon in the US and Canada. Elsewhere, Italian brand, Isola Bio is performing well overseas as more consumers look for dairy alternatives. 70% of the brand’s sales were from outside Italy, secured in key markets Brazil, Spain, Portugal and Eastern Europe.

Wessanen has sustained healthy profitable growth in the first half of 2017, with the company’s own brands continuing to drive sales.