Ceri Ritchie

Experience

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  Co-operative Wholesale Society (CWS)

  Sept 1984 - Apr 1991

  As a senior executive in the buying group Ceri was responsible for negotiating the procurement of health & beauty care, laundry care and cooking oil ranges (multi million pound ranges). This included awarding supply contracts, determining retail ranges, setting budgets for both branded and own label products, managing a Junior Buyer and ‘selling on’ her ranges to independent co-ops throughout the UK. Key achievements included the procurement of good quality products, negotiating profitable buying terms and discounts from suppliers for both branded and own label products and satisfied [co-op] retail customers. Show less

  • Commodity Group (Category) Manager, Food Buying Group

    Oct 1989 - Apr 1991

  • Senior Buyer, Food Buying Group

    Sept 1987 - Oct 1989

  • Product Manager/Buyer, Frozen Foods Group

    Oct 1985 - Sept 1987

  • Product Manager, Wines and Spirits, Food Manufacturing Group

    Sept 1984 - Oct 1985
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  SAC

  Apr 1991 - Apr 2003

  In this role Ceri was responsible for business development, growth and budget coordination for the Marketing Group (Team equivalent today). Ceri also contributed to department and divisional management in her role as Divisional Business Manager. Key achievements during this time included the generation of consultancy income from a range of customers including major Scottish Enterprise, Scotland-wide, multi-annual projects such as Market Advantage and Graduate into Food Business. Ceri’s publications included 'A Guide to Marketing for SMEs' and the 'Organic Marketing Guide' and refereed articles in 'Supply Chain Management: An International Journal'. In 1999 Ceri was awarded the R C Stewart Prize for extension and advisory work. Show less Ceri moved to Scotland in 1991 for personal reasons and, unable to join a multiple retailer grocery team (the main Scottish grocery retail player had just completed a reorganisation of its buying team) she opted for a career change, deciding to use her considerable grocery experience to work with Scottish suppliers and teach future farmers / suppliers. Ceri was recruited to strengthen the SAC department’s food industry credentials; to grow its commercial consultancy business and develop food industry related under- and post-graduate teaching modules. During this time Ceri was seconded to Grampian Enterprise as Consultant Project Executive from January to June 1992 to manage sector projects and develop operational plans for 1992/93. Ceri also became the Manager for Food Marketing activities within the VAS programme. Key achievements during this time included: securing consultancy contracts with Scottish Government, Local Enterprise Companies and independent businesses; developing, marketing and managing 'Marketing and Business Research Services' the department’s first consultancy group; representing SAC on the Grampian Initiative Food Task Force alongside business leaders and owners; becoming a member of the Grampian Food Forum Promotions Group and heading up its Food Awards Sub-group. Ceri was also published a number of times in the 'Scottish Agricultural Economics Review' and also wrote a chapter in a book on supply chain partnerships. Show less

  • Group (Team) Leader Marketing Group, Agricultural and Food Economics Department, Management Division

    Oct 1998 - Apr 2003

  • Food Business Management Economist, Agricultural and Food Economics Department, Management Division

    Apr 1991 - Oct 1998
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  SAC Consulting (a division of SAC)

  Apr 2003 - Apr 2011

  In April 2005 Ceri assumed responsibility for managing the previously mentioned VAS programme along with the marketing and business development function for SAC Consulting. Ceri also continued to manage SAC Food & Drink until 2007 and SAC International until 2010. For part of this time Ceri was also Sector Leader for Land Economy knowledge transfer across SAC. Ceri relaunched and managed the SAC’s New Technology Group from 2008 to 2010. Some of the key achievements during this period include: building the value perception of the VAS programme and initiating the programme’s annual public-facing report; negotiating project budgets and developing and delivering a number of commercial contracts; profitable business development and delivery; gaining BSI Quality Management System ISO 90001:2008 certification in March 2009 and organising and facilitating the divisional conference in 2007/08. Show less Following a functional business wide restructure Ceri was successfully appointed as one of the thirteen new Group Managers across SAC. Her group consisted of four operational areas Food Marketing, the Rural Business Unit, SAC International, and the Farm Accounts Scheme. Ceri was also one of six Sector Leaders appointed to be responsible for cross cutting market sectors within the business with her sector being Land Economy. Ceri was the key contact for one of the three Series within the VAS programme and Manager for the Food Marketing activities within this programme. Key achievements during this period included the creation of a cohesive, productive, profitable and successful group; streamlining business structures and implementing effective management processes; the delivery of a range of successful commercial projects along with a good range of knowledge transfer outputs. Show less

  • Divisional Marketing Manager / Group Manager

    Apr 2005 - Apr 2011

  • Group Manager, Rural Business and Marketing

    Apr 2003 - Apr 2005
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  SAC Consulting (a division of SRUC [previously SAC])

  Apr 2011 - Dec 2014

  Group Manager, Marketing & Business Development,

  In this role Ceri was responsible for financial and strategic group management, leadership and business delivery. Group activities comprised SAC Food & Drink, the management of the £7M annual Scottish Government’s Veterinary and Advisory Services programme and the development and delivery of SAC Consulting’s marketing strategy. Key achievements in this time include founding and chairing SRUC’s Food Forum, being a Member of Scotland Food and Drink’s Executive Group and chairing its Agriculture group, winning the £2.5M Think Local contract to support the development of local food and drink across Scotland, the development of a suite of professional marketing literature and focussed marketing campaigns including social media, new innovative consultancy services brought to market, the development of CRM and the implementation of a customer satisfaction strategy that has yielded 99% customer satisfaction. Show less

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  SAC Consulting (a division of SRUC)

  Dec 2014 - Nov 2021

  Sector Manager: Food & Drink

  A new position created following the restructure of SAC Consulting in autumn/winter 2014. Ceri is now responsible for the further focussed strategic development and growth of food and drink sector activities at SAC Consulting. This includes developing SRUC-wide food and drink knowledge transfer and growth and the continued chairmanship of the SRUC Food Forum. Ceri also continues to manage the Scottish Government’s VAS Programme across SRUC as well as the SRUC-wide Customer Relationship Management project Show less

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  CLAN Cancer Support

  Jul 2019 - now

  Non Executive Director
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  SAC Consulting, a division of SRUC

  Aug 2021 - Oct 2023

  Head of Food & Enterprise

  Providing expanded services across food & drink, tourism and the rural sector as part of SAC Consulting’s Food & Footprint group.

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  Retired

  Nov 2023 - Jan 2024

  Recently retired

  Recently retired from Head of Food & Enterprise, taking a break from full time employment and embracing a new stage in my career.

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  SAC Consulting part of SRUC

  Jan 2024 - now

  Principal Consultant

  Working with Scotland's food & drink, tourism and the rural sector as part of SAC Consulting's Food & Footprint group.