Place UK, based at Tunstead near North Walsham, has appointed Pieter van Egmond as its new managing director. His predecessor, Tim Place, decided to step back to concentrate on his role as chairman of parent company R & JM Place.
Van Egmond, who joined the firm in 2018 as farm director, comes from a horticultural background and grew up working for a Lincolnshire-based family business set up by his Dutch great-grandfather.
"I am delighted to be taking on this role at Place UK, at an exciting time for the business," he told edp24.co.uk. "My twin aims will be to provide continuity and preserve all that has made the business so successful over seven decades, while taking it forward into a new phase of growth over the coming years. We will continue to innovate, capitalise on new technology, and extend our growing season, while increasing further the sustainability of what we do.“
Place UK, which employs up to 650 people at the height of the summer fruit-picking season, supplies berries and soft fruits for major retailers as part of the UK’s biggest soft fruit marketing group, Berry Gardens.
Photo source: Edp24.co.uk