Bernard Matthews chief quits

Bernard Matthews chief executive Bart Dalla Mura has left the company without a job to go to. He departure comes as the brand stuggles to regain sales following the bird flu crisis and cruelty allegations

Dalla Mura, who joined the company as commercial director in July last year (MW March 30), had been tasked with raising the food company’s profile.

In July, it launched its first advertising campaign after the bird flu crisis in a bid to boost sales, which had falled by 17% over the year to April (MW July 19). The sales slump came after the H5N1 bird flu virus was found at Bernard Matthews’ plant in Holton, Suffolk, in February this year.

Della Mura previously spent six years with Allied Bakeries and has also worked for Unilever.