Guy Shropshire, who has helped lead North American and European business for prominent fresh produce grower G’s Group for more than a decade, will become its chief executive officer on 1May.
Guy will take over for his father, John Shropshire, who will become Executive Chairman and will help offer guidance to Guy and members of the G’s Group Board.
“I am delighted and privileged to take up the appointment of G’s Group CEO, as part of the transition to the next family generation,” Guy said. “The change in leadership will not be accompanied by a ‘big bang’ or sudden change in strategy. Instead, I wish to champion continuous improvement and a constant positive evolution, not revolution. We have a good business and we remain market led, with a clear product focussed strategy.
“Additionally, our philosophy, promise and values has stood us in good stead and spanned multi generations. Our values: trust, expertise, quality, efficiency, and can-do absolutely underpin the great business that we have today, in addition to our commitment to ESG which broadens our overall objectives to incorporate a Triple-Bottom-Line strategy – People, Profit, Planet – central to the family.”
For 45 years, John Shropshire had led the company, known for its variety of vegetables, its salad lines and its popular Love Beets product that was launched in the U.S. in 2010. It has expanded its reach with facilities across the UK, Eastern Europe, West Africa, Spain, the Netherlands and the United States.
The company got its roots in 1952, when Guy’s grandfather, who carried the same name, purchased a plot of land in Cambridgeshire to grow celery. The rest is history: G’s has become one of the largest suppliers of many produce items in the UK, with sales far eclipsing £500 million.
“I believe we have an ever-stronger value proposition, well aligned to both the current and future market trends of our customers and consumers,” the new CEO said. “Through a long-term commitment to our key strategic markets and range of core products, as well as by pushing the boundaries in new business development we will continue to drive the business forward.”
