Weetabix Food Company has appointed John Petre as head of technical, succeeding John Pickles, head of R&D, and Keith Turnbull, head of quality, overseeing a team of 60 at the cereal brand.

Petre will head up quality and compliance, as well as research and development for the company.
According to Weetabix, his appointment will “ensure Weetabix’s products, both old and new, continue to surpass industry standards”.

Petre has almost 20 years’ experience in the food industry, having held director-level positions across R&D, innovation and marketing at leading firms across a number of sectors.

He joins from kitchens and joinery products supplier Howdens Joinery Co, where he was Design, Innovation and Sourcing Director. Prior to this, John worked at food manufacturer Premier Foods for over five years.

Patrick Rigby, group operations director, commented: “Having worked at the cutting edge of marketing, technical and R&D for two decades, John has amassed a genuinely unique set of skills.

“Plus, with a strong background in engineering too, John’s broad-ranging insights will be invaluable as Weetabix continues to evolve and grow.”

Petre added: “Weetabix has a proven track record for creating innovative, well-loved products, so I’m thrilled to be joining a company with such a strong reputation.”