Nigel Chadd is to become the new chairman of the Sterling Supergroup following the announcement at the buying group’s 59th annual conference that John Whitechurch OBE of J&R Foodservice would be stepping down.
Chadd recently sold his business, Chadd’s Foodsmiths, to fellow Sterling Member J&R Foodservice earlier this year. He said said, “I am honoured and delighted to become Chairman of the Sterling Supergroup. Sterling has been part of the Chadds DNA since the early 90’s. With the recent sale to our local friends and members at J & R Foodservice, this has released the appropriate time to invest in this role fully with dedication and enthusiasm.”
As Chairman, my goal is to continue building on the strong foundation that has already been laid by our former Chairman, John Whitechurch, and the team at Sterling. I am committed to encouraging further collaboration and working closely with all our members and suppliers to support our shared goals and maximise the potential of the group.”
Read more: Interview: Sterling Supergroup
Elsewhere at the annual conference Sterling hosted its second annual award ceremony during the Gala Dinner and the winners of the 2025 awards were:
Member of the Year 2025 – J&R Foodservice Ltd
Supplier of the Year 2025 – Unilever Food Solutions
Sterling Caterers Essentials Member of the Year 2025 – Cool Cuisine Foodservice Ltd
Sterling Caterers Essentials Supplier of the Year 2025 – Martin Mathew & Co Ltd
Sustainability Member of the Year 2025 – Strachans Ltd
Sustainability Supplier of the Year 2025 – Marshfield Farm Ice Cream Ltd
Daniel Larkin, chief commercial officer, said “After a year of drawing interest and elevating awareness of all our group’s assets, it was a real pleasure to see the Sterling community in full swing. The theme for this year’s conference really hit the mark and seemed to spark some of the most meaningful conversations I’ve had in ages. We also saw a record number of entrants and nominations for our awards, which continue to gain momentum as a powerful driver of excellence.”
