KP Foods seeks marketing chief

United Biscuits-owned KP Foods is looking for a head of marketing and new product development for its nuts division.

The position has arisen following the departure of Caroline Bonwitt, the former marketing controller for KP Nuts who left at the end of last year to pursue a career in the precision engineering industry.

Bonwitt oversaw the launch of Nutsters, peanuts coated in crunchy coatings in three flavours – cheese and onion, salt ‘n’ vinegar and ready salted – in October last year.

Bonwitt, aided by general manager Andrew Rush, started a review of the division’s ad account out of BDDP GGT, now part of TBWA GGT Simons Palmer. As a result, the account moved into Leo Burnett.

Meanwhile, the KP snacks division is to launch a Mini Cheddars and cheese dip product in April. It is understood the pot of mini cheddar biscuits and dip will cost about 55p and come in two flavours – cheese, and cheese and onion. The brand will compete against Kraft’s Dairy Lea Dunkers.

The same division is also planning to launch cheese-flavoured Skips at the beginning of March. It is expected that the launch will be supported by TV ads through Publicis.

A spokeswoman for KP Foods confirms there are a number of product innovations planned as part of the development of Skips and Mini Cheddars, but she refuses to comment further.