Total supply chain solutions provider Oakland International has announced the appointment of James Whittall as their new Food Park Development Manager.

With an experienced background in food retail for over a decade, James has a strong managerial and project management track record holding several decision-making positions including store manager, project management, supervisory and engineering roles.

Said James: “I am delighted to join Oakland International at the start of their journey to create socially and environmentally responsible food science, technology and manufacturing parks, with my immediate focus being to research low carbon technology and to expand our existing connections and partnership network to champion green energy solutions.

“Oakland’s Food Park project has been developed conceptually over the last 10 years and is designed to bring food businesses of all sizes together to help them develop and grow and aims to benefit everyone involved with shared benefits including supply chain, labour, green credentials, energy security and waste.”

Oakland International is a double Queen’s Award for Enterprise recipient for International Trade and Sustainable Development and has taken the first step in B Corp certification.

Added James: “Oakland is a fantastic company, who have outstanding values that align with my own in terms of being environmentally responsible. The staff are incredibly warm and welcoming, and I’ve seen how they come together as a team, and I am excited to join them.”

Working to become the first business within their sector to achieve net-zero, Oakland International operates 24-hours/7 days a week and is a retail, food service and direct to consumer specialist in contract packing, storage, picking, food distribution and a brand development support provider for ambient, chilled and frozen food to the retail, convenience, discount, wholesale and food service markets in the UK and Ireland.

Oakland International’s Co-Founder and CEO Dean Attwell said: “We are fully committed to a journey which leads the way in sustainable practices, and we are delighted to welcome James as we work to develop and then deliver our planned food retail parks.”