SPC Ardmona: Robert Giles appointed new CEO

Shepparton Partners Collective has announced the appointment of Robert Giles as the CEO of SPC Ardmona, three months after buying the business from Coca-Cola Amatil for AUD 40 million.
Giles was previously chief commercial officer and has been with the business for almost two years. He replaces managing director Reg Weine, who had been at SPC as managing director since May 2015.

The chair of SPC Ardmona, Hussein Rifai, said “When we bought the business, we said we believe there is enormous opportunity to grow this iconic 100-year-old brand domestically and internationally. The appointment of Robert as CEO is an important step in facilitating this. […] Over the past few months we have worked and will continue to work with management to reduce the complexity in the business, improve the efficiency of working capital and inventory, build domestic and international channels, and review product innovation. […] Our intention is to utilise SPC’s full capacity by creating new, innovative products and explore new distribution channels.”

At the time of the sale, in June 2019, Rifai said: “Most importantly, we believe that SPC has the right management, led by Reg, to achieve our projected three-year growth targets.”
Today, a spokesperson for SPC said Weine had stayed with Amatil when the sale went through.

Giles said they have been focussed on the "enormous task" of separating from Amatil. “At the same time, we have started several important strategic projects, recruited the right team and commenced the process of opening new sales channels and new overseas markets and selling some of our excess stock. […] “We are confident in our progress towards establishing the right business strategy and we are very positive about the future of this business. We are already working on some exciting initiatives as well as products and solutions that will appeal to a broader market at home and abroad.” 

Source: foodanddrinkbusiness.com.au, sheppnews.com.au