Oakland Speciality Supply Chain has appointed Jamie Smith as Operational Excellence Manager, strengthening its leadership team with an experienced supply chain professional whose expertise spans food manufacturing and direct-to-consumer (D2C) operations.

Bringing a blend of operational, manufacturing and fulfilment experience, Jamie joins Oakland at a time of significant investment in infrastructure and technology, supporting the business’s continued focus on efficiency, service performance and customer value across its specialist supply chain solutions portfolio.

Jamie started his career with Oakland International through the company’s Management Development Programme before progressing through a range of supply chain and operational leadership roles across food manufacturing and D2C organisations. Most recently, as Head of Operations, he was responsible for driving operational performance, continuous improvement and customer service excellence. His breadth of experience provides him with a deep understanding of both operational complexities and changing customer expectations.

He will focus on driving operational excellence across Oakland’s Redditch operation while also supporting wider group activities where required. Working closely with the senior management team, he will identify opportunities to improve efficiency, enhance productivity, optimise technology utilisation and support continuous improvement across the business.

Oakland International Speciality Supply Chain Services MD Luke Attwell said: “We’ve invested significantly in our infrastructure and technology, and Jamie’s appointment is about making sure we maximise that investment value for our customers. As supply chains become increasingly complex, businesses need partners that can respond quickly, operate efficiently and continuously evolve. Jamie’s experience across manufacturing, fulfilment and customer-facing operations will help us further strengthen our capabilities and support customers as their requirements continue to develop.

“We are excited to have him back and look forward to seeing the impact he can make as we continue to grow.”

Having worked both within Oakland and across the wider food and consumer goods sectors, Jamie brings valuable expertise in operational performance, fulfilment and supply chain management, strengthening Oakland’s ability to support customers across increasingly complex supply chains.

His remit includes identifying opportunities to streamline processes, enhance performance and support the continued development of Oakland’s supply chain solutions.

Commenting on his appointment, Jamie Smith said: “I’m delighted to be returning to Oakland at such an exciting stage in the company’s development. Having started my career here, I know first-hand the strength of the business, its people and its customer-focused culture.

“This feels like a real full-circle moment for me. Since leaving Oakland, I’ve held a number of supply chain and operational leadership positions and have also worked as an on-site customer for two D2C businesses that partnered with Oakland. This experience gave me a unique perspective on the value Oakland can bring to its customers, the importance of strong partnerships, and the impact that operational excellence can have on business growth and customer satisfaction.

“The investments made in technology and operational capability create a fantastic platform for future growth. I’m looking forward to working with the team to build on that foundation, drive continuous improvement, strengthen our customer relationships, and help deliver even greater value, service and growth for our customer base.”

The appointment strengthens Oakland International’s senior leadership team as it continues to expand its specialist supply chain capabilities across the food, retail, manufacturing and direct-to-consumer sectors.

Oakland International is a multi-award-winning, family-owned specialist in multi-temperature supply chain solutions across the UK and Ireland. With Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi)-validated net zero targets, the business combines operational excellence with a commitment to sustainability, helping customers protect product integrity, reduce food waste and recover value through innovative services including its award-winning Distress Load Management solution.