Steve Murrells, the chief executive of UK meat processor Tulip, is to become CEO of The Co-operative Group’s food retail business.
Murrells, a former Tesco and Sainsbury’s executive, will take the role in July. He replaces Tim Hurrell, who retired last year.
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The 46-year-old said today (27 January) that The Co-op had “made enormous strides in its food business” and insisted it was “an exciting time” to take the job.
This week, The Co-op, the UK’s fifth-largest grocer, said seven senior food managers were to leave the company amid a restructuring of its food business.
Murrells joined Tulip in 2009 from Tesco, where his roles included commercial director for its fresh foods business and CEO of c-store chain One Stop. He also held buying and trading roles at Sainsbury’s.
The Co-op’s food sales have been lacklustre in recent months. In the 13 weeks to 31 December, like-for-like sales from The Co-op’s food stores fell 0.2%, although the retailer pointed to a 3.1% increase in the four weeks to New Year’s Eve.
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By GlobalDataIn the six months to 2 July, sales were down 4.6%, which led to a 21% drop in underlying profits from its food stores. Those results prompted group chief executive Peter Marks to then describe trading conditions in the UK as “the worst I have seen in 40 years of retailing”.
The Co-op also announced today the promotion of food commercial director Sean Toal to a new position of chief operating officer for the grocery division.
Commenting on the appointments, Marks said: “As a result of the acquisition and integration of Somerfield, The Co-operative Group has experienced phenomenal growth, and is once again a major force in food retailing. These appointments reflect this. Steve and Sean bring to their new positions a wealth of experience and complementary skills to make us more efficient and more customer focussed as we move through the next phase of our development.”
