Nestl plans food division restructure

Nestl is to phase out the position of marketing director for its food division in a slimmer structure which will devolve power to three general managers.

The company is restructuring its food business, abandoning canning and dropping many of its brands from the Crosse & Blackwell range, including tomato ketchup, salad cream, baked beans, pastas and canned soups (MW November 7).

Food division marketing director David Hudson is to replace corporate affairs director Terry Holmes, who retires at the end of May. Hudson will be given “additional responsibility to advise on advertising and communications”.

His position as marketing director will not be filled. Instead, marketing responsibilities will be devolved to three general managers – one for frozen food, one for chilled food and another for ambient food.

Nestl would not give the names of the three managers, but says the restructure has come about because of Hudson’s new position. “This is just one more way of improving efficiency,” says a spokeswoman.