200 Degrees promotes Stephen Fern to managing director

200 Degrees Coffee has promoted Stephen Fern (pictured) to managing director.

Having held the position of financial director with the coffee roaster since 2019, Stephen Fern is taking on the managing director role from co-owner and CEO of the business, Rob Darby.

The Nottingham-based roaster has experienced a continued period of growth across the business, and as managing director, Stephen will now oversee the company’s operations, growth, team and customer experience.

200 Degrees marked a number of significant milestones last year, celebrating its tenth year in business, reaching 200 team members and opening its eighteenth coffee shop.

The roaster continues to expand its team in its shops, roast house and central team as well as driving forward its barista school network, home subscription, ecommerce and wholesale offering.

Stephen Fern said: “I am incredibly honoured to be trusted with this position, at a company with such a fantastic culture and ethos for delivering great products and services to our customers, as well as its support of not-for-profit, grass root causes. I will continue to learn from co-owners Rob and his business partner Tom Vincent, while also building the culture and driving continuous improvements across the business.

“We have fantastic teams across 200 Degrees and my aim will be to help facilitate each and every employee in achieving their personal goals, that in turn will allow 200 Degrees to achieve our growth and community-focussed ambitions.”

Rob Darby, CEO of 200 Degrees, added: As we continue to expand the business, I want to ensure that we are doing everything we can to guarantee all employees at 200 Degrees and our customers, have the same great experience.

“Stephen has a deep understanding of 200 Degrees and has spent much time working in our shops and across all arms of the business. He has embedded himself not only in our operations but our culture too and is the right person to move into the managing director role, as we deliver our next stage of expansion.

“We couldn’t have found someone better suited both strategically and culturally, and I am hugely excited and proud to have such a great guy with so much passion in the role. Congrats Stephen.”

Rob Darby and Tom Vincent founded 200 Degrees in 2012, after setting up its roastery on Meadow Lane, opposite Notts County Football Stadium. Since then, they have expanded its footprint across England and Wales.

Cost of living crisis top of mind for UK food and drink shows

Bringing together the very best of the hospitality, manufacturing and grocery, speciality and convenience retail sectors, the UK Food & Drink Shows return to the NEC, Birmingham this April 2023 (24 – 26), to showcase the very latest products, big thinking, key insights and address key trends through the lens of the developing cost-of-living crisis.

The popular event unites National Convenience Show, Farm Shop & Deli Show, Food & Drink Expo and Foodex Manufacturing Solutions (incorporating Ingredients) under one roof, giving food and drink professionals 2023’s most comprehensive snapshot of the latest developments across multiple industries.

The UK has thus far narrowly avoided recession, say the event’s organisers, yet the cost of living crisis continues to affect every part of the industry. Attendees will be able to hear from the manufacturers, supply chain operators, retailers, food producers, start-ups and key associations as they come together to discuss measures already in place and what comes next.

Andrew Reed, managing director –Wine & Exhibitions, William Reed, said: “Across the UK Food & Drink Shows’ three days, we’ll be addressing exactly what impact the heightened cost of living is having on the industry, grilling our expert panels on what can be done to help and highlighting the latest products and solutions the sector has to offer.

“The UK Food & Drink Shows are historically an event in which industry professionals can come together, dissect problems, and share ideas. Our industry’s spirit was laid bare throughout the Coronavirus pandemic, now – as we face yet another challenge – I have no doubt that we will unite once again in April to prove our resilience.”