Welcoming Jon Matthews to the team
Jon Matthews has been appointed as Sales Director at Thomas Ridley, following 28 years of foodservice experience at Bidfood, where he was previously Head of Sales.
Joining the team in late November, Jon brings to Thomas Ridley his wealth of industry knowledge, leadership skills and expertise in building successful teams; with consistent double-digit growth.
Paul Knight, Commercial Director at Thomas Ridley, welcomes Jon to the team: “Now is an optimum time for Jon to join the team as, here at Thomas Ridley, we’ve emerged from the pandemic fit, strong and ready for growth. Jon is here to help us seize new opportunities and to push the business forward even further.
“I welcome his wealth of foodservice experience and local knowledge, having lived and worked in Suffolk for around 30 years. With a keen eye on new business development, I’m very excited that Jon’s here and that he’s ready to take on lots of new and exciting challenges with us. Jon has a fierce appetite for growth and tenacity for empowering positive change, and I’m sure he’s going to be a great fit for the team.”
Charged with further developing Thomas Ridley’s strategy for developing new business, Jon will also be focusing on delivering more value for current customers as well as strengthening the company’s performance in key sectors and expanding the sales team.
Jon Matthews, Sales Director at Thomas Ridley, said: “I’m excited to jump into this role and have a big impact. The team at Thomas Ridley has been incredibly welcoming and working for a company that champions family values, and really cares for its customers, fits perfectly with my beliefs.
“I’m looking forward to working collaboratively with the sales team to deliver real improvements for our customers, while helping to develop the business further. After almost 30 years at Bidfood, it’s been a big change to join the team at Thomas Ridley but I’m very keen to take on this new role and learn all about the business and what makes it different within the foodservice sector. It’s a company I’ve always admired for its values, support of local and British businesses and its renowned customer service.”
Originally from Bristol, Jon moved to Suffolk in the 1990s to help his family run a successful pub in Blyford, near Southwold. Having worked across the spectrum of foodservice operations, Jon brings an abundance of knowledge, contacts and insights to Thomas Ridley, an impressive track record in sales and team management and a passion for delivering fantastic customer service and demonstrable results.
