Holland’s Pies boss ’suspended’
The boss of Holland’s Pies is understood to have been suspended.
Neil Court-Johnston, who took over as managing director of the north west pies and puddings producer in 2008 and has steered the business back into the black, has not been at Holland’s main site in Baxenden, near Accrington, for over a week.
It is understood he was suspended over claims that he may have been discussing with potential investors a buyout of Holland’s from parent company Northern Foods, owner of brands including Fox’s biscuits and Goodfella’s pizzas.
Robin Walker, Northern Foods’ managing director of convenience foods, has assumed responsibility for Holland’s for the time being.
Northern Foods spokesman Andrew Hanson said: “We wouldn’t comment on matters relating to individual employees.
“Holland’s continues to operate as normal and, having been around for 160 years, the business is a team rather than about individual employees.”
Stockport-born Mr Court-Johnston has turned around Holland’s since he took the helm.
Under him the business, which has around 400 staff, has begun exporting to Spain, has expanded its ranges to include Halal products aimed at Asian takeaways, has started supplying pies and puddings via the internet and has rolled out sales to cafés, colleges, pubs and soccer stadiums.
Sales have risen during the economic downturn to over £40m as consumers have turned to value-for-money food items.
Holland’s, which was established in 1851, produces more than 80 million chilled and frozen pies, pasties and puddings each year.
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