Family-owned manufacturer, Bulla Dairy Foods, has appointed Peter Hall as CEO. Hall joins in September, returning to Australia after more than 25 years running food and beverage businesses across North America, Europe, Latin America and the Caribbean.
Most recently he was CEO of CARIB Brewery and president of beverage within the ANSA McAL Group of Companies. He has previously held senior roles at Heineken Americas, Dean & DeLuca, Treasury Wine Estates and Diageo.
The appointment comes after Allan Hood stepped down in March, who had been with the business for 12 years, joining as CFO in 2013 and taking the top job in 2015. James Downey, a fifth-generation member of one of Bulla’s three founding families, has been acting CEO since and will work alongside Hall through the handover.
Bulla chair, Ian Sloan, said the board ran an extensive global search.
“Peter was a standout candidate, and we were delighted when he accepted the role. He brings deep experience across fast-moving consumer goods and manufacturing, and an unparalleled understanding of how these industries are evolving.
“His international background and global perspective give us great confidence in his leadership of Bulla at this exciting time in the company’s history,” Sloan said.
Bulla recently increased its manufacturing capacity with its Hearn Street ice cream factory at Colac, Victoria. The purpose-built plant carrying two new processing lines, cold storage, a custom refrigeration system, cold chain loading docks, and electric heat pumps in place of gas boilers. The company runs three Victorian manufacturing sites, at Colac, Dandenong and Mulgrave, with head office and distribution at Derrimut.
Hall said returning to lead the business was a unique career opportunity.
“What attracted me most was the unique combination of family ownership and the remarkable achievements the business has delivered for more than a century.
“Building brands has been my life’s work, and I’m excited to build on Bulla’s strong foundations and the family values that have made the business and brand so respected for generations,” Hall said.
Bulla was founded in 1910 and remains owned by three inter-related families. It exports to 17 countries and employs more than 600 people.
