Dairy Crest boss takes Duchy role

Dairy Crest group marketing director Belinda Gooding has quit to become managing director of Duchy Originals, the organic food business established by Prince Charles.

Gooding replaces Tim Ledgard, who stepped down in November to become BBC Online’s head of marketing.

She joined Dairy Crest in 1997 from Mars, where she was marketing director for Poland.

No announcement has yet been made about Gooding’s replacement.

Gooding recently oversaw a review of Dairy Crest’s £8.5m advertising account, across products including Clover and Willow dairy spreads and the Frijj milk drink.

The business was awarded to Grey Advertising after Dairy Crest withdrew it from Rainey Kelly Campbell Roalfe/Y&R, claiming client conflict with Danone UK (MW December 2).

Gooding, who also headed the launch of Dairy Crest’s organic cheese range, will take up her new role in June.

The company is a registered subsidiary of the Prince of Wales’ Charitable Foundation. Duchy Originals was set up in 1990, and donates all profits to charity.

The company claims sales increased by 40 per cent over the past year to more than £8m.

The range includes more than 30 organic product lines, such as biscuits, mints, free-range sausages and bacon.