The managing director of French convenience food firm Marie Frais, Christophe Fenart, has quit his post at short notice.

Contacted by just-food this morning, Philippe Gélin, director of the delicatessen division of parent company LDC, confirmed Fenart’s departure, which he said had been at the executive’s own request.

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“Mr Fenart wishes to accelerate the development of a personal project,” Gélin said, adding that this explained what may have appeared to be a hasty exit from the company.       

Gélin, who will occupy the vacant post on a temporary basis, went on to quash “the pure speculation” that Fenart had left Marie as a result of a conflict over strategy.

However, Gélin declined to comment on the integration of Marie, which was acquired in 2009 from UK convenience food group Uniq, nor on the future of the business’s frozen branch, Marie Surgelés, amid reports that it could be sold.  

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