Directors face job threat after Taste closure

Carlton Communications and J Sainbury’s decision to dissolve their joint venture, the Taste Network, has placed the role of marketing director Tim Adams in jeopardy.

The move also means that Duncan Pringle’s position as sales director is in doubt. Pringle left Freeserve in March to join the Carlton Food Network as it prepared to relaunch as the Taste/Carlton Food Network channel.

Sainsbury’s will resume control of the Web-based recipe and wine assets from September 1, and Carlton will resume sole control of the TV channel. The Taste.co.UK website will close.

Adams was promoted to his position from the role of marketing manager following the departure of Nick Adderley, who left Taste in July to join Somerfield as group brand director.

A spokesman for Carlton Communications says: “There may be redundancies from Taste as the joint venture disbands.”

Taste employs about 70 staff, up to 30 of whom are expected to be made redundant.

Carlton Communications director of business development Matthew Kearney says: “Taste was an innovative project but has suffered from weaker than expected growth in advertising and e-commerce revenues in a generally difficult market for niche channels.”

Carlton has yet to make a decision as to whether it will continue to fund the channel, but in the interim its star attraction, Anthea Turner, will continue to front the show Taste Today.