Meet the team

Our biggest ongoing investment is in our people - because that’s what we believe genuinely stands us out from our peers. We have a team of truly inspirational people, passionate about delivering exceptional results, and holding themselves accountable for achieving the ambitions of ourselves and our brand partners.

Rob Amar

Year Joined

2001

Food Heaven

Curry and real ale

CV Secret

I’ve never had a successful job interview

James Amar

Year Joined

2013

Food Heaven

Bananas

CV Secret

At various times in my life, I've been mistaken for Ali G, Borat, Louis Theroux and David Baddiel - but only dressed up as one of them!

Henry Amar

Year Joined

1960

Food Heaven

Products sold by RH Amar

CV Secret

I claim to be one of the few members of the food industry ever to have appeared on stage with the Royal Opera, Covent Garden. Whilst I was an undergraduate, the Royal Opera arrived in Oxford with a production of AIDA to be performed at the New Theatre. There was a ‘flu epidemic, and many of their 'extras' were unwell. They advertised for tall young men to fill some of the roles, and so I appeared in the first half as 14th Soldier. So impressive was my performance that in the second half I was promoted to the key role of 3rd Torchbearer. I was paid fifteen shillings (75p), but never invited back!

Ruth Amar

Year Joined

1982

Food Heaven

Chocolate

CV Secret

I never graduated from university and I can't ride a bike

Agnieszka Klichta

Year Joined

2022

Food Heaven

CV Secret

Albina Lukaszek

Year Joined

2013

Food Heaven

Sunday roast chicken dinner, with all the trimmings

Aleksandra Gralak

Year Joined

2021

Food Heaven

Brazilian chicken and beans stew

CV Secret

I love baking! Cookies & cakes are my obsession and I hope I will have occasion to share my lovely cakes and cookies with everyone in the office

Alexandru Ninu
Alice Bunsit

Year Joined

Food Heaven

CV Secret

Andy Rudol

Year Joined

2017

Food Heaven

Hot curry - the hotter the better!

CV Secret

I was a Gold Medal winner at the Amateur World Kickboxing Championships held in Tuscany, Italy (2014 and 2016).

Anne-Marie Cannon

Year Joined

2012

Food Heaven

Lasagne

CV Secret

I served Stella McCartney at a pub where I used to work

Ashley Hanson

Year Joined

2015

Food Heaven

Sunday roast

CV Secret

I played for QPR Reserves when I was 17!

Becky Cook

Year Joined

2018

Food Heaven

Any type of Mexican food

CV Secret

I ‘survived’ a boat crash while working in the Maldives - I was stranded in the middle of the Indian Ocean for over an hour!

Bex De Ascencao

Year Joined

2014

Food Heaven

Chicken roast dinner with a glass of prosecco

CV Secret

I played the double of Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory!

Bobby Bamrung

Year Joined

2018

Food Heaven

I love Japanese Foods, specially 'Takoyaki', and I also love steak pie with mash and gravy

CV Secret

I am a Chelsea supporter and used to work with their brand partner, but most of the time I was assigned to work with Manchester United and Leicester City

Carl Simmonds

Year Joined

Food Heaven

CV Secret

Ceslovas Rupkus

Year Joined

2018

Food Heaven

CV Secret

Chris Davison

Year Joined

2001

Food Heaven

Tea cakes, crumpets, most bakery products, chocolate, biscuits, chocolate biscuits and duck - not altogether of course. If I had to pick one it would be pan-fried duck breast in papaya sauce, asparagus and dauphinoise potatoes with a nice (big) glass of Fleurie

CV Secret

I used to be Stephen Redgrave's postman

Chris Eley

Year Joined

2017

Food Heaven

Steak (rare to medium), chips and a pint

CV Secret

As a West Ham fan, I was lucky enough to play at Upton Park three times (before it was demolished!)

Clarissa French

Year Joined

2022

Food Heaven

CV Secret

Claudia Bondoret

Year Joined

2001

Food Heaven

Ice cream!

CV Secret

I like spending time outside, and movie nights

Dan Richards

Year Joined

2020

Food Heaven

Tea cakes, crumpets, most bakery products, chocolate, biscuits, chocolate biscuits Thai food & a cold beer

CV Secret

I once played football on the Millennium Stadium for a national football final

Dawn Bragan

Year Joined

2014

Food Heaven

It's all about Sunday, or 'Flavour Day' as we call it. As a family we all get together and the children have input. Nothing better than watching their pleasure as you munch on their ‘creations’!

CV Secret

I appeared on Tyne Tees television’s Look North programme dressed as a strawberry! (This was for a yoghurt promotion!)

Ed Cheadle

Year Joined

2018

Food Heaven

A meaty BBQ with beers in the sun.

CV Secret

I backpacked across Australia after graduating university, and found work on a 40,000-head cattle ranch in the Outback.

Edward Taylor-Green

Year Joined

2001

Food Heaven

Chinese food

CV Secret

I worked on site with Mark Wahlberg

Elsie Walker

Year Joined

2019

Food Heaven

Ginger chicken udon noodles & crispy squid from Wagamama. Plus anything with chocolate!

CV Secret

I once cooked curry, rice & beans with Levi Roots.

Federico Ilner

Year Joined

2022

Food Heaven

CV Secret

Freddie Brady

Year Joined

Food Heaven

CV Secret

Gary Morley

Year Joined

2001

Food Heaven

Italian

CV Secret

I once slipped and fell in the swimming pool when I was coaching to the delight of the parents watching

Geoffrey Savin

Year Joined

2011

Food Heaven

A roast

CV Secret

I like fishing in my spare time

Graham Johnson

Year Joined

1994

Food Heaven

Cheesy mash

Ian Gemmell

Year Joined

2001

Food Heaven

Roast with all the trimmings

CV Secret

I keep and breed reptiles - mostly snakes!

James Washbourne

Year Joined

2021

Food Heaven

Mum's minted lamb

CV Secret

I've played football at the greatest stadium in the world... Villa Park

Jess Bartkowiak

Year Joined

2016

Food Heaven

Fish, avocado, tomatoes, cheese, peanut butter and pizza – but maybe not all together!

CV Secret

Believe it or not, I actually have the legal title of a Lady!

Joanna Barwinska

Year Joined

2017

Food Heaven

Chinese food

CV Secret

I went to cooking school, but never worked as a chef

John Jarvis

Year Joined

2020

Food Heaven

Steak, egg and chips

CV Secret

I once saw Hugh Jackman and Warwick Davies at Pinewood Studios, and had a cup of tea on the set of Beauty and the Beast

John Lilleystone

Year Joined

2003

Food Heaven

Curry and a cold beer

CV Secret

I was an extra in a few episodes of a TV series in the 1980s called Drummonds

Joy Coleman

Year Joined

Food Heaven

CV Secret

Julie Wesson

Year Joined

2004

Food Heaven

Chocolate fudge cake

CV Secret

I have Johnny Depp’s autograph after seeing him walking down Rye High Street

Justin Burbage

Year Joined

2019

Food Heaven

A traditional Sunday Roast

CV Secret

I once dressed up as a “Monster Munch” for an Asda store opening!

Karen Jones

Year Joined

2013

Food Heaven

Lobster Thermidor

CV Secret

I was a 2012 Olympic Gamesmaker

Karen Williams

Year Joined

2012

Food Heaven

Stilton cheese

CV Secret

I’ve spent 7 years in Sea Cadets

Kieron Broad

Year Joined

2022

Food Heaven

CV Secret

Krzysztof Jastrzebski

Year Joined

2020

Food Heaven

Chicken burger

CV Secret

I like playing tennis

Lesley Parker

Year Joined

2007

Food Heaven

Champagne Cocktail and Kettle Chips

CV Secret

I swam with sharks in the Caribbean - and the guide allocated to us for the children had to hold my hand, not theirs!

Lesley Robertson

Year Joined

2002

Food Heaven

Lobster Thermidor

CV Secret

I spoke Swahili before English!

Lily Prachantharasri

Year Joined

Food Heaven

CV Secret

Lisa Ryan

Year Joined

2014

Food Heaven

A proper Cornish Pasty and chocolate!

CV Secret

When I worked as a Motor Insurance Claims Handler I handled claims for Jay Kay from Jamiroquai and Thierry Henry.

Marcus Blowers

Year Joined

2013

Food Heaven

Cottage Pie

CV Secret

I completed the London Marathon but finished behind an 80-year-old man

Marcus Rayner

Year Joined

Food Heaven

CV Secret

Markus Endt

Year Joined

2014

Food Heaven

Has to be my favourite 2 egg dish with snow peas and crispy pork belly and keong yong at HK Diner in London’s Chinatown

CV Secret

I worked for the South African Breweries and would receive 48 bottles of beer a month as a perk – but I never enjoyed one as I am a teetotaller. My brother, father and friends enjoyed them all!

Martin Beaumont

Year Joined

2010

Food Heaven

Doner kebab

CV Secret

Martynas Klemanas

Year Joined

2019

Food Heaven

Anything Italian – creamy risotto or rich flavourful tagliatelle accompanied with a glass of wine

CV Secret

I have been invited to work in Lapland (North Finland) as Santa’s snowmobile guide

Modestas Rupkus

Year Joined

2016

Food Heaven

Pigs in blankets and homemade double cheese burgers, with a pint of lager

CV Secret

I used to play guitar at music school, but they made us choose a second instrument and I chose piano. I didn’t really like it, so I quit and never graduated.

Neil May

Year Joined

1995

Food Heaven

Fish

CV Secret

I like going for a walk

Nerene Willis

Year Joined

2012

Food Heaven

Tiger prawns

CV Secret

I appeared as a guest chef three times on a TV breakfast programme in South Africa called 'The Toastie Show'

Nick Ash

Year Joined

2016

Food Heaven

Steak and chips, followed by sticky toffee pudding and custard

CV Secret

I was shot on my first day at university, but no lasting damage!

Pat Saworok

Year Joined

2020

Food Heaven

Seafood and cooking Thai and English food

CV Secret

I worked in Thai restaurant for 3 years

Paul McDonagh

Year Joined

2001

Food Heaven

Sunday roast

CV Secret

No secrets here!

Paul Read

Year Joined

2018

Food Heaven

Pappardelle al ragù di cinghiale

CV Secret

I was offered YTS football contracts at Bournemouth and Charlton, having previously played for Norwich City from U15-17

Paul Routley

Year Joined

2010

Food Heaven

Meatballs and a glass of red wine

CV Secret

I was an unpaid extra in the Rocky V film

Peter Collins

Year Joined

1989

Food Heaven

Roast dinner, doner kebabs, fry ups

CV Secret

I support the best team in the world, Man Utd. And my 1st job was making seatbelts - very boring!

Phil Lee
Phil Marx

Year Joined

2012

Food Heaven

Roast Beef, marinated in red wine and mushrooms

CV Secret

In my previous life I was… said too much…

Ramunas Jankauskas

Year Joined

2020

Food Heaven

French cuisine

CV Secret

I've played table tennis for eight years, even in a league. Maybe I would have become a pro or maybe it’s not too late!

Robin Huckle

Year Joined

2003

Food Heaven

Steak and kidney pie

CV Secret

I'm far too honest to have any secrets

Ryan Kimble

Year Joined

2020

Food Heaven

Fajitas

CV Secret

I’ve known how to do sign language my whole life

Sam Higgins

Year Joined

2003

Food Heaven

Thai Massaman curry and a crisp white wine to wash it down

CV Secret

One hobby is amateur dramatics and I’ve appeared in numerous pantomimes over the years. Oh no you haven’t… Oh yes I have!

Shannon Morris

Year Joined

2022

Food Heaven

CV Secret

Simon Fry

Year Joined

2001

Food Heaven

Steak and chips

CV Secret

I'm a trained cocktail barman

Simona Jotkeviciute

Year Joined

2020

Food Heaven

Italian food with glass of white wine

CV Secret

I am qualified skin specialist

Stephen Cavanagh

Year Joined

2022

Food Heaven

CV Secret

Sue Paetel

Year Joined

2013

Food Heaven

Fillet steak - rare!

CV Secret

I like to think of myself as adventurous and was recently a passenger in a helicopter trip over Iceland with a pilot better known for working on the movie sets of Tomb Raider and the Bond films as a stunt pilot. Needless to say it was certainly adventurous!

Tim Brady

Year Joined

2000

Food Heaven

Homemade crème brûlée – served on a wooden table in a farmhouse kitchen with open windows giving views over rolling countryside on a late summer's evening with fresh cream and a flagon of cider.

CV Secret

I worked as a stuntman and film extra for a few weeks, alas the film never made the big time and neither did I…

Tony Williams

Year Joined

2006

Food Heaven

Roast dinner followed by apple crumble

CV Secret

I was once photographed in the local newspaper dressed as a space capsule

Warren Harris

Year Joined

2021

Food Heaven

A sunny Greek island mezze with Mythos & Metaxa

CV Secret

When working as a Hotel Food & Beverage Manager in the 90s, Take That often stayed at our hotel... we even had a few late night games of snooker together!

Wojciech Zwirner
Zara Schultz

Year Joined

2015

Food Heaven

Mum’s Christmas Dinner

CV Secret

I used to work with Nigel Mansell