Quorn Foods today announces that current CEO, Marco Bertacca, is stepping down after five years at the helm. From next month, David Flochel, former MD of Heineken UK, will join the business and take over leadership over the course of the coming months.
Bertacca replaced long-standing CEO Kevin Brennan in January 2020, and during his tenure was faced with navigating the business through the Covid-19 pandemic and the ensuing inflation and cost-of-living crises, plus disruption within the plant-based industry.
Turbulent waters
The company has since weathered a dip in sales; substantial pre-tax losses; exited retail markets including the Benelux region, and in terms of mass media and public opinion appeared to have shouldered significant blame, receiving a torrent of rather fierce backlash from both press and consumers amid the 2023 downtick and ongoing category consolidation.
“This is a brilliant opportunity to transform the business into the next stage of its journey”
Nevertheless, the exiting CEO said to vegconomist at the beginning of this year that he had high hopes for the regrowth of the meat-free category in the UK, stating “We believe the category will return to growth again, as economic pressures ease and the market continues to restabilise. The most important thing is what we do next, as a brand and an industry.”
“Quorn Foods will thrive”
Quorn Foods is owned by Monde Nissin, one of the leading food consumer goods companies in the Philippines. Henry Soesanto, Chief Executive of Monde Nissin, stated last November his intention to inject a proportion of his family fortune into the company, confident that it would return and prosper.
Commenting today on the departure of Bertacca and the onboarding of Flochel, Soesanto said, “Marco has been instrumental in leading Quorn through many pivotal moments in its history. His passion for the company, our mission and values has been unparalleled.
“We are delighted to welcome David to the team, and are confident that under his leadership, Quorn Foods will thrive and continue to be the global leader of the alternative protein sector.”
Despite the tumultuous period, the company states that Quorn and sister brand Cauldron account for nearly a third of the UK Total Meat Free category value[1], and during his time as CEO Bertacca has overseen successful initiatives at Quorn such as the launch of the Marlow Ingredients division in 2023, making its mycoprotein ingredient to other food companies, and through which Marlow rolled out a blended product for food service in the UK including NHS hospitals, to some controversy.
“I know Quorn is in good hands”
Speaking on his departure, Bertacca states, “I would like to extend a huge thanks to the entire team for all the incredible things we’ve achieved in the five years I have been with the business. Despite the challenges with overall growth in the last few years, we have improved Quorn retail market share, achieved yearly growth in our Foodservice & QSR business, and launched the new Marlow Ingredients business unit. It’s been a huge privilege and honour to have played a part in accelerating Quorn’s mission to tackle climate change through great tasting, sustainable food.”
He adds, “I know Quorn is in good hands. David is bringing an incredible depth of knowledge and experience into the company, and we are already working closely together to ensure a smooth transition.”
Most recently serving at Haleon, where he took charge of the management team of Haleon’s nicotine replacement therapy (“NRT”) business outside of the US, Flochel was previously at Heineken as MD for the UK market, while other past experiences include stints at Mars Drinks at Mars Inc. and at Unilever Food Solutions in France and in the Netherlands.
Commenting on his appointment, the newly appointed CEO states: “Quorn Foods has a strong history of success, but 2025 will be a reset year for the company. This is a brilliant opportunity to transform the business into the next stage of its journey and I am delighted to be taking on this new role. I believe that with the right focus and execution we can turn around the company and current category performance.”
[1] Circana, Total Market, Value Sales, 52WE 5th October 2024 – Quorn Foods value market share 31.8%
