Frozen food distributor Central Foods has announced the appointment of John Shephard as its new business development manager.

His position at Northamptonshire-based Central Foods will involve taking care of key accounts including Bidfood, Caterfood and South Lincs Foodservice.

Bringing a wealth of over 25 years’ worth of experience working in various roles across the foodservice industry, specialising in bakery, frozen and chilled food-to-go (FTG) sectors, John Shephard commented: “I am delighted to have joined the Central Foods team and look forward to bringing my many years of experience to a company dedicated to supplying high quality products and service.”

Managing Director, Gordon Lauder, added: “We are very pleased to welcome John to Central Foods. His experience right across the foodservice sector will help to strengthen and grow our business development team.”

John's experience includes managing multi-million-pound contract accounts within the chilled FTG convenience and retail sectors, working with a bakery supplier to UK leading contract caterers and involvement with key hospitality and sporting events, and four years’ coffee experience within the hotel, restaurant, café and licensed trade.

Central Foods is one of the UK’s leading frozen food distributors, currently supplying more than 220 independent wholesalers, as well as larger national and regional wholesalers, and foodservice caterers across the entire foodservice industry.

Offering a one-stop shop to the foodservice sector, Central Foods sources products from around the world and the UK, supplying more than 400 different lines, ranging from meat, bakery items and canapés through to buffet products, desserts and puddings.