UK & Ireland Summit: Fuelled by Ambition

Brian Farrell

CEO, Kepak

Brian Farrell is the CEO of Kepak Foods Division, which includes Rustlers and Big Al’s in its branded portfolio. The division is a leading player in the dynamic food-to-go market, with a strong focus on retail and foodservice, delivering innovative and high-quality solutions tailored to meet evolving consumer needs. Since joining Kepak in 2023, Brian has been instrumental in driving growth, innovation, and operational excellence across the Foods Division, while strengthening its position in the competitive food-to-go sector with the recent acquisition of Summit Foods. 

Prior to Kepak, Brian held senior executive roles with Glanbia plc and IBI Corporate Finance. At Glanbia, he was part of the Nutritionals executive leadership team, overseeing global product management and corporate development within the nutrition sector. Earlier in his career, he worked as a director at IBI Corporate Finance, advising clients on mergers and acquisitions, funding, and strategic planning.

A chartered accountant by training, Brian began his career with KPMG. Today, he combines his broad experience in business strategy and leadership to drive the success of Kepak Foods Division in both retail and foodservice markets.

Mr Graham Wilkinson

CEO, Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB)

Graham is an experienced agriculturalist with a deep understanding of best-practice production methods – particularly across the dairy, beef, lamb, pork and poultry sectors. He has gained considerable practical knowledge from his time working on his family farm as well as for Tesco PLC, Arla Foods and now AHDB.

Prior to joining AHDB on 1 March 2024, Graham led the Global Agriculture team at Arla Foods, supporting over 8,500 cooperative farmer owners across seven markets and managing the delivery of innovative commercial milk concepts on farm. During his extensive career at Arla, he worked in both UK and global roles, helping to steer and develop a data-driven, on-farm sustainability agenda, both for specific commercial customers and the wider cooperative.

He has also spent time in the retail sector at Tesco PLC, joining the company in 2011 as Agriculture Manager. During this time, Graham was integral to the implementation of Tesco’s Sustainable Farming Groups within its MFPE category before moving across to the dairy category. Working alongside Tesco’s Sustainable Dairy Group members, he helped develop the company’s agriculture policy and strategy for the dairy category while collaborating with the Commercial and Technical Teams. Graham also developed the Tesco Future Farmer Foundation’, which was established to support new entrants and young farmers to launch their careers in agriculture.

In his role as CEO of the Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), Graham is looking forward to promoting and unleashing the full potential of British farmers and growers for the future and is absolute in the view that British agriculture is among the best in the world.

Steph Wood

Managing Director, One Stop Stores Ltd

Steph started her career at Asda, joining the Trading Graduate scheme in 2005.  She spent 6 years there, building experience in various product and buyer roles, before moving to Tesco in 2011.  She has spent the last 13 years in senior executive roles within Tesco, including Category Director, Strategic Sourcing Director and Fresh Food Commercial Director as well as stepping up as Acting Group Chief Commercial Officer in 2022.  In May 2023 Steph was appointed as Managing Director of One Stop Stores Ltd. Steph lives with her husband Nick and her 3 children in Hertfordshire.