Hilton Food Group appoints former Co-op Food chief executive

Steve Murells, the former head of Co-op Food, has been appointed as the chief executive of Hilton Food Group.

Due to take up his role from 3 July 2023, he will also join the group’s board.

Murrells will succeed Philip Heffer who has decided to step down after almost 30 years with the business. However, Heffer will remain with the group as co-founder and advisor to the Hilton Foods board.

Murrells has a connection to the business dating back almost 30 years when he was one of Hilton Foods’ first customers and commercial partners at Tesco. After working as chief executive of Tulip Ltd from 2009 to 2012, he then became chief executive of Co-op Food where he oversaw a turnaround and repositioned the business as a leading convenience player. He was subsequently appointed as group chief executive of Co-op Group.

In 2022, Murrells was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire for services to the food supply chain.