Iceland warms to former Asda man
Andy Clarke to head frozen food chain
March 11 2004
Big Food Group has appointed former Asda and Matalan director Andy Clarke as the head of its Iceland frozen food chain.
Clarke will replace current Iceland boss Mike Coupe, who is scheduled to leave the business in May. Big Food said the appointment followed a search by external headhunters covering ‘a wide range of potential candidates’.
Clarke has experience of food retailing at both Morrisons and Asda, and was group retail director of clothing discounter Matalan until last March.
He had joined Matalan along with Paul Mason, former UK president of Asda. Both left Matalan after what was described as a clash of ‘management style’ with founder and executive chairman John Hargreaves. Mason now heads up Levi Strauss’s European operation.
Big Food also owns the Booker wholesale business and is one of the potential bidders for convenience chain Londis.
