Fresh Food
As a long-term executive search partner to fresh food businesses in the UK and Internationally, Eden understands the unique opportunities and challenges facing this dynamic sector. We work with organisations across the fresh food supply chain, helping them identify, assess and secure exceptional leadership talent capable of driving growth, innovation and long-term success.
The fresh food industry continues to operate in an increasingly complex environment. Labour availability, supply chain resilience, sustainability targets, retailer expectations, changing consumer behaviours and evolving regulatory requirements are reshaping the sector. Against this backdrop, securing the right leadership has never been more important.
Our expertise spans the entire fresh food value chain, including growers, fresh produce businesses, packers, processors, importers, exporters, vertically integrated supply chains, chilled food manufacturers and foodservice suppliers. We partner with organisations ranging from family-owned enterprises and private equity-backed businesses to some of the world’s leading food companies.
What sets Eden apart is our deep understanding of both the sector and the people who shape it. Our consultants combine extensive executive search expertise with genuine industry knowledge, enabling us to engage with exceptional leadership talent both within fresh food and across adjacent sectors where transferable skills can bring fresh perspectives and competitive advantage.
We support clients across key fresh food markets including the UK, Netherlands, Spain, France, Germany, Italy and wider international regions, giving us access to an extensive network of senior executives and market-leading specialists.
Our fresh food practice delivers:
- Executive search for board, C-suite and senior leadership appointments
- Interim leadership solutions for transformation, growth and business-critical projects
- Market mapping and talent intelligence
- Leadership benchmarking and succession planning
- Strategic advisory to support organisational design and future capability
Through regular engagement with industry leaders, producers, retailers and supply chain partners, we maintain a deep understanding of the trends shaping the future of fresh food. This insight enables us to identify leaders who can balance commercial performance with operational excellence, sustainability commitments and long-term business growth.
Whether you are seeking to strengthen your leadership team, plan for succession, deliver transformation or support international expansion, Eden provides the expertise, insight and network to connect you with outstanding leadership talent across the global fresh food sector.
Please contact Morten Andresen or David Macaulay who will share details of our experience, results and credentials in this area.
Morten Andresen and David Macaulay are the team’s Fresh Food specialists having both worked in and recruited in the sector throughout their respective careers.
Please click on their bios to find out more about their experience and how they can support your business.
Morten Andresen
After eleven years working as a fresh food recruitment specialist for MorePeople, Morten joined Eden in July 2023 as Director, Fresh Food. Morten started his career at the largest cut flower business in the UK before moving into a commercial role with a major fresh produce supplier. Realising he wanted to do more than just focus his work on one or two retailers, he embarked on a career in recruitment – a move that enabled him to work with and help as many people as possible.
During his time in recruitment, Morten has assisted people at all levels, helping them take the next step in their career. More recently he has focused his efforts on Senior and Executive appointments –making Eden the natural next step for his career progression.
Outside of work, Morten is a family man and his free time is most often spent with his wife and 2 children.
David Macaulay
As Founder and Managing Director of Eden Search & Select, David has spent his career working with a diverse range of businesses in the food and farming sectors – supporting their strategy and helping them recruit and retain Directors and Senior Managers. During this time, he has developed a deep understanding of the industry and the skills and attributes required by businesses to deliver high performing board and executive teams. This experience and track record has made him a credible sounding board on succession planning for both his clients and industry peers. Results-driven, David’s personal values of industry insight and integrity have delivered numerous successful projects and established Eden Search & Select as The Executive Search partner of choice for leading companies in the fresh food, food and drink, food manufacturing and agribusiness sectors globally. David’s industry experience is deep rooted, having grown up on the family farm in Essex, which he remains actively involved in.
Case studies
AM Fresh
AMFRESH partnered with Eden to appoint a Group ESG Director at a strategic level to lead and champion their pledge to environmental and social stewardship, by specifically leading the development, implementation and operation of the AMFRESH Group ESG Strategy.
Denhay Farms Ltd.
With the planned retirement of their longstanding Managing Director, Denhay Farms Ltd. partnered with Eden Search to appoint a successor who will continue the business’ legacy.
First Milk
Eden partnered with First Milk to support their search for a newly created Business Unit Director role to run their Milk division. This position is an important part of First Milk’s future growth plans, providing strategic leadership for their farmer members and their milk supply, whilst re-enforcing their commitment to regenerative farming and B-Corp status.
Noble Foods
Noble Foods is a leading vertically integrated supplier of fresh food brands to major retailers and consumers with a clear purpose to better nourish people, animals, and planet.
Dole Inc
Dole Europe approached Eden to support them in the search for the Managing Director for their Italian business based near Milan.
Dyson Farming
Eden partnered with Dyson Farming who sought to recruit a General Manager to oversee all of their Controlled Environment Agriculture (CEA) operations.
First Milk – Technology Director
Eden partnered with First Milk to appoint a Technology Director to support their continued growth and development across the business.
British Berry Growers
Eden partnered with the British Berry Growers to appoint an Executive Chair following the planned retirement of long-standing Chair Nick Marston after nine years of impactful leadership.
Frequently Asked Questions
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Eden supports board, C-suite and senior leadership appointments across the fresh food sector, including Chairs, Non-Executive Directors, CEOs, Managing Directors together with Commercial Directors, Operations Directors, Supply Chain Directors, Technical Directors, Finance Directors, HR Directors and specialist functional leaders. We work across fresh produce, horticulture, meat, dairy, poultry and value-added fresh food businesses.
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We partner with businesses throughout the fresh food supply chain, including growers, packers, processors, importers, exporters, marketing organisations and vertically integrated food businesses. Our experience spans both UK and international markets.
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The fresh food industry faces unique challenges, including labour availability, sustainability requirements, retailer expectations, supply chain complexity, product quality, seasonality and international sourcing. Finding leaders who understand these dynamics often requires a specialist network and sector-specific expertise.
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Yes. We work with organisations ranging from owner-managed businesses and family-owned enterprises to private equity-backed companies and multinational food groups. Our search approach is tailored to each organisation’s growth plans, culture and leadership requirements.
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Absolutely. Alongside executive search, we support clients with succession planning, leadership benchmarking, talent mapping and strategic organisational advice to help build sustainable leadership pipelines for the future.
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Yes. We provide interim leadership solutions for businesses undergoing change, investment, acquisition, transformation, succession events or periods of accelerated growth. Our interim executives bring immediate expertise and leadership capability.
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Our search process combines detailed market mapping, proactive candidate engagement, rigorous assessment and industry benchmarking. Leveraging our extensive network across the global food supply chain enables us to engage high-calibre candidates who may not be actively seeking a new opportunity.
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Eden is exclusively focused on the global food supply chain. Our consultants and in-house research team combine executive search expertise with extensive industry knowledge, extensive sector networks and a genuine commitment to the industries we serve. This enables us to deliver exceptional leadership talent and long-term strategic value to our clients.
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Yes. We regularly support leadership appointments across the UK, Europe, North America, Africa and other international markets. Our global reach allows us to access talent wherever the strongest candidates are located.
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Whilst every assignment is different, most executive search projects are completed within a matter of weeks. Timeframes depend on the complexity of the brief, market conditions and geographic scope, but our process is designed to deliver quality and efficiency.
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Yes. A big part of our work is to support clients with succession planning, talent mapping, leadership benchmarking and broader organisational advisory services, helping businesses build robust leadership pipelines for future growth.