Paul Freeston to depart as Apetito CEO

Paul Freeston will be stepping down as CEO and chair of hospital meal provider Apetito in December, following a 25-year tenure.

Under his leadership, Apetito UK and its Wiltshire Farm Foods home delivery business has grown nationally from £30m to £250m, whilst increasing its team from 400 to almost 2,000. He also led the Apetito group into Canada and USA and has been a member of the international group board since 2007.

Freeston said that he will be passing the baton on as he is “looking to invest my energies into new business opportunities and challenges”.

He reflected: “I’m immensely proud of what we have accomplished as a team and know that I leave behind a strong legacy and a team poised for even greater success in the future.”

Robert Düsterberg, deputy chairman of the Apetito group and a member of its owning family, said: “Paul has grown our business with unparalleled passion and dedication and been the driving force behind the success of Apetito UK, transforming challenges into opportunities and always having a clear vision of the direction the company needed to go.

“His unwavering commitment and visionary leadership have shaped Apetito UK and led the group into North America.”

Apetito is now working on a succession plan for Freeston’s role as well as preparing for its next phase of growth.

The company has already committed to reaching net zero emissions by 2040.