Blakemore creates commercial director role
AF Blakemore (the largest SPAR distribution company in the UK) has appointed David Cooke to the newly created role of group commercial director.
Cooke, who joined the business this month, has been given the task of creating and implementing a new commercial strategy aligned with the group’s five-year plan.
His role will include accountability for the company’s commercial function, developing supplier partnerships, managing commercial trading terms, developing retail propositions and accelerating the rollout of the firm’s fresh food strategy.
He will report to group chief executive Jerry Marwood.
Cooke has a background in trading, proposition and product development gained through stints with national and international companies including Sainsbury’s, Tesco, health and beauty retailer AS Watson and most recently Dutch store chain Hema.
At Hema, he was director of food, health and beauty, overseeing divisions with a combined turnover of about €500m.
