Peck and Strong

Recruitment Case Study

A bespoke and personal approach to recruiting two very senior roles

ABOUT THE COMPANY

Peck and Strong is a wholesale artisan bakery, renowned for its delicious handmade cakes, shortbreads and flapjacks. From small beginnings baking from a tiny kitchen in Devon in 1980 to the highly successful company that it is today, the company now employs 30 staff. Their yummy cakes, flapjacks, shortbread, brownies and savoury vegetarian flans and pies are enjoyed across the UK and Ireland in settings ranging from coffee shops to universities, from garden centres to delis, and prestige destination sites.

APPOINTMENT OF NEW MANAGING DIRECTOR AND BDM…

John Peck, who has built the company from scratch over 40 years, wanted to step away from the day-to-day running of the business and needed to recruit someone with the vision and capability to fill his shoes as Managing Director.

In addition, they decided to appoint a new Business Development Manager to bolster their leadership and the sales team.

Strong commercial ability with the right values…

Not only was it important for the candidates to have experience in, or a strong affinity with, baking and the baking industry, but also to have a close alignment between their own values and those of a company with very strong ethos foundations. Candidates were required to have strong commercial acumen, and to have the vision, energy and talent to take the business forward to the next level.

“Kirsty had a very bespoke and personal approach to the recruitment process. She visited the factory here in Devon to get a feel for the business and how we worked and gave a great level of personal care and genuine involvement to the entire process.”
John Peck | Peck and Strong

“The candidates that were put forward by Kirsty Craig Associates were so strong that we ended up recruiting three people, creating a new role simply because we were so impressed with the quality of candidates that Kirsty put forward.”

The result of finding the right people has resulted in a smooth transition for Peck and Strong and for John himself into the next chapter of his life:

“Finding the right people has meant that I have been able to hand the reins over to an MD and team I can fully trust, – bright, energetic and very capable, with great potential, and an appreciation of the core values of the company on which to build future development.”

John Peck | Peck & Strong

“I unreservedly recommend Kirsty and her team for their bespoke, personal approach to this recruitment process. This is far from what I expected from a recruitment company and it certainly sets her apart. She genuinely cares …and that’s the difference.”