Food charity set to ‘grow and thrive’ under new CEO Gene

Food charity Fareshare South West has appointed a new chief executive.

Gene Joyner, pictured, has joined the organisation from Better Food, where he was managing director for more than four years, overseeing a 130-strong workforce.

He has taken over from Julian Mines, who stepped down in June after five years at the helm. Lucy Bearn, director of operations, had been acting as interim chief executive before his appointment.

Andy Street, chair of trustees at Fareshare South West, said he was “confident” the charity would “grow and thrive” under Mr Joyner’s leadership.

He said: “Gene brings with him all the ingredients of a great CEO – he understands the challenges we’re facing and the sector that Fareshare South West is part of. He’s an experienced business leader and is embedded in our community.”

Mr Joyner has held various leadership roles, including head of operations at Parsons Bakery, managing director at Cornish Sea Salt, managing director at Bart Ingredients, and operations director at WT Foods. He said: “These are increasingly difficult times for many people, which is why the work of Fareshare South West is so important; to be able to directly support communities and families, in and through these challenging times, is a huge responsibility, but also an enormous privilege.” Later this year, Fareshare South

West, whose headquarters are in Bristol but operates across the region, will launch its employability programme for young people not in employment, education or training in a bid to help them progress into paid work. The charity said it would also continue expanding into Devon and Cornwall.

During the pandemic, Fareshare South West grew its operations fivefold, delivering food for nearly six million meals in 2020. Last year saw it redistribute over 2,000 tonnes food to more than 400 charities, schools and community projects.