'Seabrook has unique place in snacks market': Calbee hires new R&D manager
Savoury snack manufacturer Calbee UK has appointed Abigail Walker as R&D (research and development) manager.
Ms Walker, who previously worked as product developer at Leeds-based supermarket chain Asda, will encourage innovation at Calbee UK, which acquired the crisp brand Seabrook in 2018.
She said: “I’m really excited to be part of a business with such a strong heritage. Seabrook has a unique place in the UK snacks market, and with the recent launch of the Bags of Northern Soul creative campaign, I’m looking forward to being part of that.”
Group Marketing Director for Calbee UK, Claire Hooper, commented: “We would like to take this opportunity to welcome Abi to the team.
"She has already started to work on some exciting projects, and we look forward to delivering innovation that will excite shoppers and drive incremental growth in the category.”
Seabrook Crisps first launched in 1945 when Colin Brook, son of Charles Brook (C. Brook), returned from the Royal Navy and together they discovered that their fish and chip shop fryer could be used to produce crinkle cut crisps.
The business has grown over the years, most recently investing £15m into its Bradford and Deeside based factories to increase capacity.
Founded in 1949, Calbee is Japan’s largest savoury snack manufacturer, responsible for producing almost two billion packets of crisps per year.