Meet the team

Alan

After a number of years working for Nurdin & Peacock and Booker I recognised an opportunity to offer brands representation within the Wholesale world and Avansa was born. I love the job and my team but my biggest love is watching Derby County and where you’ll find me most weekends!

Jenny

I began my working life in London working in the banking sector on foreign exchange. A career change took me to Nurdin & Peacock’s head office and then onto Avansa. I’m really creative with certificates for amateur gardening, patchwork & quilting and advanced sugarcraft and I love pottery.

Stuart

I joined Avansa in 2008 having previously worked for Booker Cash & Carry. I enjoy anything sport related, particularly football, rugby and motorsports and can often be found wandering the countryside whilst walking the dog or enjoying my caravan.

Tim

Before my Avansa days I worked with HP Foods and Golden Wonder and over the last few years I’ve been using this experience to develop our Retail Sales arm of the business. I enjoy watching sports, time with the family and have also managed to squeeze in climbing Kilimanjaro and the 3 Peaks!

Carl

Wholesale is in my blood having worked for Booker and Nurdin & Peacock since leaving college before joining Avansa in 2010. Outside of work you’ll find me socialising with family and friends and trying to keep fit by going to the gym, getting on my bike at weekends and playing the odd game of golf.

Sue

My love for wholesale began with Nurdin & Peacock where I had my first job as a grocery buyer before joining Avansa when the business was just starting up. Outside of work I love travelling around Europe on my Moto Guzzi motorbike and hope to start enjoying some sailing adventures soon once I’ve mastered my knot skills!

Rikin

After many many years working within wholesale accounts I decided I was up for a new challenge and joined Avansa bringing my experience and contacts to the team. My hobbies include reading books, watching movies, cricket and most importantly spending time with my family.

Claire K

I’m a busy mum of two girls (and two crazy cats!), and love travelling, shopping and enjoying a glass of prosecco with friends.

Amanda

My time in the web based automotive sector gave me a good appreciation of the value of branding and engaging with customers. Mummy (though they don’t call me that anymore) to two lovely girls who keep me busy especially dancing around the kitchen to Take That!

Jonny

I previously trained and worked as a chef in restaurants and hotels around Manchester. I enjoy going to the gym, playing football and tennis and live music – I even play a little guitar myself!

Anna

Before having my three boys I was previously a primary school teacher, I now spend the majority of my time trying to keep up with them! In my spare time I enjoy walking in the beautiful Surrey countryside and reading.

Samantha

Mum to two amazing girls which keeps me pretty busy. In my spare time I love to read, crochet and enjoy taking our dog Tilly for walks in the beautiful Surrey countryside.

Sally

I enjoy walking my two dogs (especially when I find a new route) and spending time with family and friends, which generally involves a glass or two of something refreshing. I have two lovely children that keep me busy with taxi and B&B, plus meals, service!

Caroline

Have come straight out of university studying international relations. I spend my spare time, going out with friends, painting and making travel plans.

Emma

Prior to Avansa my background was in-store merchandising and point of sale. These days as well as working I’m a busy mummy to two young children and enjoy Barre classes, baking and spending time by the coast.

Claire M

I’m a keen artist and after running my own online retail business within the arts and crafts sector I now enjoy dabbling in pet portraiture. My favourite place in the world is walking Peggy my pet cocker spaniel and exploring the Pembrokeshire coast line.

Richard

With a background in hospitality and surviving five years as a driving instructor, I also enjoy running, hiking, cycling and attending motorsport events. My other big love is Manchester City, supporting them through the good and the bad times!

Ellie Stapylton

Previously worked for Bookers quickly working my way up the ladder. I found a new challenge within Avansa which would also included my Cash & Carry background.

I enjoy travelling, socialising and reading in my spare time.

Damien

Having previously worked for Ladbrokes I had a lot of experience which helped me easily transition into the retail convenience sector and I love the variety every day brings. In my spare time I enjoy writing and reading plenty of fiction, and watching and playing baseball.

Safwan

I’ve been in the wholesale industry since I was 16 initially starting out at Bestway as a buyer before moving over to work as a Field Sales Representative for Ferrero. Outside of work I enjoy watching football and playing cricket and listening to podcasts.

Michelle

I’ve been in sales for many years, in fact since I was a child when my parents had fruit and veg shops. I love seeing live bands with my friends, running in finer weather and walking my dog in all weathers!

Sonia

Having been with Avansa since the early days starting out holding sales demonstrations I now cover national and independent wholesale accounts, plus retail accounts across six different regions! I like to spend my weekends with my husband and friends, dining out and booking as many holidays as possible.

Stella-Maria

With a strong career in wholesale I joined Avansa in 2020 bringing my knowledge and contacts with me. I’m never too busy for an invite and you’ll often find me socialising with family and friends. At the weekends I love nothing more than a spot of outdoor swimming and spending time and playing football with my two grandsons, Jacob and Elliot, who I adore!

Michelle

Before Joining Avansa I was a Teaching Assistant at an Infant School which I loved as it fitted in with spending time with my 2 boys. Now they are both teenagers I was up for a new challenge! Outside of work I enjoy Horse Racing and Music Festivals with my husband and friends.

Chris

After years in the sports coaching industry, I have transferred my people skills into being part of the Avansa team. Outside of work, you’ll either find me watching Walsall FC or going for walks with my partner Ruth.

Kate

I have a degree in Criminology, and have worked in a variety of leadership roles for much of my career.

I love spending time with family, trying out new cuisines, and exploring UK cities and coast as much as possible, but when I’m not doing that, I will happily fill my time watching pretty much any sport I can, and getting out and about with my old collie and my crazy spaniel.

Michael

A lot of my work experience has been in sales and administration.  Companies I have worked for include, BskyB, The Times newspaper and food wholesale.  I hope those experiences will help me in this role.

Outside of work I love history, music, sport and of course the worlds number one football club, Arsenal.

David

Before joining Avansa, I spent 10 years working in various primary schools as a teacher, higher level teaching assistant and teaching assistant. Prior to this, I spent a few years working as a radio journalist. I reported on Everton and Liverpool home games for a season; I was even lucky enough to report on the FA Cup Final at Wembley in 2012. In addition, I’ve worked at ASDA and Woolworths Big W. Outside of work, my main hobbies are Scouts and forest school. I’m also a Liverpool fan.

Lynn

I have enjoyed over 30 years in the FMCG market based predominantly in London and the South East where I worked my way up from field sales to regional manager being responsible for a team of 8 field reps.  I then took a completely different direction and ran my own horse riding holiday business then took on a few pubs, so I have had great exposure to a variety of different markets. In my spare time I enjoy long walks with my dog and still love horse riding .

Gemma

Previously I worked at Parfetts Cash and Carry, as a Head Office receptionist then with the Digital and Marketing team. This gave me a lot of experience which helped me easily transition into the retail convenience sector, also with having built great relationships with many of the retailers!

Out of work time I like to enjoy the outdoors with my family, especially escaping to Anglesey!

Beth

Before joining Avansa I worked in Hospitality, working my up to Duty Manager. I then joined Avansa part time, and I enjoyed the new challenge so much I took on a full-time role. Outside of work I enjoy spending time with my family and taking my dog Buddy on adventures in the countryside, finishing with a well deserved pub lunch at the end and a treat for Buddy of course!!