Creed Foodservice announces retirement of Philip de Ternant

Creed Foodservice, which is part of Kitwave, has announced that Philip de Ternant, its strategy director and former managing director, will retire at the end of 2025.

De Ternant (pictured) joined Creed Foodservice in 2006 as operations director, before becoming managing director in 2013 – a role he held for 11 years. In January 2024, he handed the reins to Miles Roberts and stepped into the position of strategy director, continuing to support the company’s direction and long-term vision as a member of the board.

Before joining Creed, he worked for Bidfood for nine years, latterly as MOD & international supply director. He also previously worked for Booker Foodservice and Pullman Foods.

During his time as managing director of Creed, the wholesaler achieved a 2-star best companies accreditation in the Best Companies to Work For survey. Now part of Kitwave, Creed was also recognised on the Best Companies top 100 large companies to work for list. In addition, the wholesaler’s team grew to be the largest to date, and turnover and new business targets were surpassed.

A well-known and highly regarded figure across the industry, de Ternant has also made a significant contribution to the Country Range Group (CRG), of which Creed is a founding member. He served on its board for several years and will continue in his role as CRG chairman into 2026.

Reflecting on his decision to retire, de Ternant said: “After 19 memorable years, I’m announcing my retirement. It’s been an incredible journey working alongside such talented and dedicated people, and I’m truly proud of what we’ve built and accomplished together. Being part of this team and helping grow this business has been one of the most rewarding experiences of my career. Working alongside Chris Creed, with his direction and vision, and the wider exec team, has been incredibly fulfilling.”

Chris Creed, CEO of Creed Foodservice, commented: “Philip has been instrumental in Creed’s success and evolution over the past two decades. His commitment, leadership and unwavering belief in our people have helped make Creed the business it is today.

“On behalf of the entire Creed family, I want to thank Philip for his years of dedication and service. His influence will be felt for many years to come, and we wish him all the very best for his well-deserved retirement.”

Miles Roberts, managing director of Creed Foodservice, added: “Philip’s leadership, vision and deep understanding of both our business and the wider industry have left an indelible mark on Creed. As we look to the future, our focus remains on driving the business forward with the same passion, purpose and culture Creed is known for, whilst ensuring our people stay at the heart of everything we do.”