Kendal Nutricare Demonstrates Its Ambition Through Key Sales Appointment

A highly experienced FMCG sales specialist has joined innovative, pharma-grade healthcare product manufacturer, Kendal Nutricare Ltd, to help drive its sales at both home and abroad.

Neill Duffy, who comes from Carrickmacross in Ireland, has been appointed Sales Manager at the Cumbrian-based company, which is focused on producing pharma-grade healthcare products for all stages of the life-cycle.

Kendal Nutricare, founded in June 2015 following the purchase of the H J Heinz factory in Kendal, is already offering UK parents something wholly unique in the shape of ‘Kendamil’ – an infant formula manufactured to a whole-milk recipe, rather than the skim-milk all other infant formulas on UK shelves follow.

Neill is now communicating this differentiator through various UK sales channels and direct to FMCG buyers. His previous experience has covered independent, multiple and chain retailers, whilst also encompassing disciplines including telesales, sales management, account management, purchasing, retail management and distribution.  His experience and FMCG contact book is already standing Kendal Nutricare in good stead.

At Kendal Nutricare, he is working closely with dynamic CEO, Ross McMahon, and already generating positive outcomes for the new Kendamil Infant Formula brand, which has recently been listed by Booths’ stores and which scooped a £6 million contract in the Chinese market, a few months ago.

Contracts have also been won in Libya and Indonesia and negotiations are underway in Africa, South East Asia and South America.

The fast-paced and highly competitive world of FMCG is one in which Neill Duffy thrives, having worked on accounts such as Morrisons, Sainsburys and Tesco during his career. Many in the retail sector will remember him from his eight years with Dunnes Stores.

He is as experienced in handling UK-based FMCG relationships as he is at generating interest and sales overseas, and has even worked for a year in Germany. This makes him an ideal sales expert for Kendamil and Kendalife brands that are just part of a vibrant NPD programme at Kendal Nutricare.

His skills in maintaining and strengthening relationships are also vital, as Kendal Nutricare continues to manufacture for major food brand names including H J Heinz.

Kendal Nutricare’s CEO, Ross McMahon, says: “Neill is adept at building successful teams, as well as mentoring other employees, and has a huge amount of experience in the FMCG sector. This makes him an ideal appointment at Kendal Nutricare, which has a small but tight team that wishes to shake up various UK and overseas markets including the infant formula sector.

“I have worked with Neill in the past and knew he would be a huge asset within our dynamic team here in Kendal. Having already helped win some significant clients and contracts, he has quickly demonstrated why Kendal Nutricare wanted him on board.”

Neill Duffy adds: “I consider myself to be conscientious, dedicated and highly motivated – attributes I believe will greatly benefit Kendal Nutricare. I assimilate knowledge very quickly, which I have already found to be vital in this role, as the new product development here at Kendal Nutricare is virtually non-stop and its exciting and differentiated brands have huge opportunities in their various markets.

“I am also relishing the opportunity to mentor other employees, as we have a relatively small team, but massive opportunities that could be seized by those with the right skills and attitude.”

In his spare time, Neill puts his mentoring skills to good use by coaching under-17 rugby players back in Ireland, where he helped coach the under 17s who won the Leinster Championship last season. He is also a highly talented clay pigeon shooter and enjoys outdoor activities such as cycling and fishing.