Bulmer chief quits for Utd Norwest role

Cider maker HP Bulmer’s international marketing director, Paul Siviter, has left to join community retailer United Norwest.

Siviter takes up the post of head of marketing at the co-op, which is strengthening its 450m food division. United Norwest is the third biggest co-op in the UK after the CWS (the Co-operative Wholesale Society) and the Co-operative, formerly known as CRS (Co-operative Retail Services).

When he was at Bulmer, Siviter reported to John Harvey, the managing director of Bulmer’s international division, who is now looking for his replacement.

As the first international marketing director for the cider manufacturer, Siviter was responsible for the overseas development and growth of brands including Strongbow and Scrumpy Jack.

A spokesman for Bulmer says Strongbow’s key overseas areas are Belgium, Italy and Greece. Scrumpy Jack has been introduced to South Africa as an alternative to Strongbow – to avoid clashes with an existing cider brand there called Crossbow. The company also owns an Australian operation which has, in turn, recently bought a New Zealand cider maker called Harvest Wine Company, to be renamed Bulmers Harvest.

United Norwest was formed in 1991, through a merger of the Norwest and United Societies, and operates 250 stores.