Simon has worked in the food industry for over 30 years, starting as a butcher before training as a Meat Inspector. After this humble beginning in the industry he achieved a BSc (Hons) in Industrial Food Technology, with his dissertation focused on modelling thermal heat transfer coefficients in swept surface heat exchangers. Post university Simon has worked for many companies from large multinationals to small entrepreneurial start-ups in various sectors of the industry. He has extensive experience in both production and technical management roles covering chilled ready meals, frozen foods, long shelf life bakery products, high and low acid thermally processed long shelf life products, aseptic processing and various other production processes. During this time he has achieved numerous industrial qualifications, worked closely with academia and was elected as a Fellow of the Institute of Food Science and Technology in 2005.
This wide ranging experience eventually led to Simon running The Food Enterprise Hub, a non-profit business support consultancy funded by the UK Government which was tasked with identifying and supporting entrepreneurs in the South East of England with businesses or start up ideas that had the potential for rapid and high value growth. Simon was also appointed as a Director with the South East Food Groups Partnership, another not for profit organisation focused on supporting SME food businesses.
Whilst with the Enterprise Hub Simon met Paul Lindley, founder of Ella’s Kitchen. Simon worked with Paul for a number of years as a mentor, supporting the growth of Ella’s Kitchen from an idea to a rapid growth business. Simon provided support in developing and industrialising the first products and acted as a mentor for the business’ first few years, finally joining the team as a permanent member in 2009. Since joining Ella’s Kitchen Simon helped to grow the business from an idea to an £80m turnover business with multinational sales, manufacturing sites across Europe and a share of around 40% of the UK baby food market. Whilst with the company Simon has focused on the manufacture of thermally processed wet baby food products, becoming the company’s expert in all forms of thermal and aseptic processing. He was also responsible for the technical management of various bakery products and delivering key business projects. This last area included leading the technical input on the design and costing of a potential new £30m processing site.
Simon left Ella's Kitchen in 2020 to set up his own consultancy business.
Our services are tailored to your company needs. Call us to discuss how we can help with everything from providing training on various processing topics to auditing your suppliers.
BSc (Hons) Industrial Food Technology
Fellow of The Institute of Food Science & Technology
Member of the Institute of Thermal Processing Specialists
ISO 9000 Lead Auditor
Six Sigma Green Belt
CIEH certificate in Advanced Food Hygiene
RIPH Train the Trainer
IOSH Health & Safety
HACCP Level 3
Food Safety & Hygiene Level 3
Attended numerous industry specific training courses, including Campden BRI’s Thermal processing courses
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