Parfetts appoints former John Lewis adviser to employee trust board

Parfetts has appointed Helen Moreton to its employee trust board, which sits separately from the executive board and represents the interests of the wholesaler’s 1,000 employees.

Moreton (pictured) is the founder and director of Boombox Consulting and has been an active part of the employee-owned sector for over 20 years. She spent 18 years at John Lewis Partnership in various independent and strategic roles and now works with several other employee-owned businesses, including Go Ape, Riverford Organic Farmers, Turley, Hockley Mint, Lush, Architype and Espace.

Martin Race, chair of Parfetts’ employee trust board, said: “I am delighted to welcome Helen to the employee trust board and am sure that with her experience of employee-owned businesses she will prove to be a great asset to Parfetts.”

Moreton added: “It is great to join this established and well-respected employee-owned company. I look forward to working with the other trustees and board as they continue their commitment toward a better way of doing business. After 18 years in John Lewis Partnership and Waitrose, I also look forward to working in retail again!

“As their independent trustee, I will use my knowledge and experience, alongside my passion for employee ownership, to stimulate debate and inform decision-making for the benefit of the business and its beneficiaries.”

Parfetts was established as a family business in 1980, a majority was sold to an employee trust board in 2008, and the company became fully employee-owned in October 2018.

Guy Swindell, joint managing director of Parfetts, concluded: “The trust board plays an important role for the business, and Helen is a great appointment. Employee ownership is a driving force in our current and future growth. It allows us to take longer-term strategic decisions and invest back into the business to help us improve our service and protect retailer margins.”