Branston Appoints Jason Kelly as COO to Lead Operational Expansion
Branston, one of the UK’s largest potato suppliers, has appointed Jason Kelly as Chief Operating Officer, signalling its commitment to driving operational transformation and long-term growth across the business. Kelly brings over 25 years of senior leadership experience, including global manufacturing roles in the food industry.
Prior to joining Branston, Kelly served as Vice President of Global Manufacturing at Krispy Kreme, where he led operational process transformation on an international scale. Before that, he was responsible for packing and processing innovations in the fresh produce sector, helping to unlock value across complex supply chains for a major UK grocery retailer.
In his new role, Kelly assumes responsibility for procurement, logistics, and operations across Branston’s group structure. He is expected to play a key part in advancing efficiency, futureproofing operations, and supporting the company’s next phase of investment and growth.
“I really missed the dynamic nature of the fresh produce and added value sector and when I was looking for my next challenge knew it was something I’d like to explore again,” said Kelly. “A very strong culture, coupled with significant stakeholder growth plans presents a rare opportunity to have a transformational impact on the business.”
“Operational and true end-to-end supply chain management is important in any business, but for Branston, an organization that relies on its strategic relationships between growers, retailers and end consumers, it is vital to success,” he added. “Farming is a hard profession and we need to do right by our suppliers – achieving this balance is the purpose of my role.”
Branston CEO Jim Windle welcomed the appointment, noting Kelly’s alignment with the company’s evolving strategy: “As we look to roll out our next phase of growth, and expand on the success of our recent ventures into dedicated potato protein and mash factories, Jason is the ideal addition to the team to support the next stage of our vision.”
“His experience so far is the ideal grounding, and it fuels his passion for world-class food manufacturing as well as his drive to make improvements throughout our entire supply chain, an area which has never been more pivotal in the UK potato industry,” Windle said.
Kelly’s appointment comes at a time of strategic growth for Branston, as the company invests in added-value processing and positions itself to navigate a complex and evolving supply landscape.
