Edmonds joined the company on Monday 5th August after nine years as senior graphic designer with Alt Design in Derby, the full-service agency behind Wilson Vale’s branding. Before that, he was a graphic designer with River, a graphic design agency in Burton-upon-Trent.
30-year-old Edmonds has other hidden talents; two years ago he decided to try his hand at making a chef’s knife.
He discovered that he not only enjoyed the process but he was very good at it. Blok Knives now has a busy order book and Edmonds has opened a workshop and invested in equipment and a website. He also runs knife skills courses at the Hobbs House Cooking School in Chipping Sudbury, home of the Fabulous Baker Brothers.
He said: ”Food and design have always been my passions so it really is serendipity to have a marketing role within a fresh food company and still be able to make knives for my growing client-base.”
Andrew Wilson, co-founder and managing director of Wilson Vale, added: ”Ben’s knives are simply beautifully made and there is no doubt that he is a passionately skilled artisan whose love of his craft reflects in everything he does. We have built the company on the basis that people should have the creative freedom to use their skills. Our chefs do so why not our marketing manager! Ben is a great example of an individual who is buzzing with ideas and has the drive, passion and talent to make a difference to this business. We are absolutely thrilled to have him on-board.”
The appointment is a strategic investment in the company’s future growth and follows quickly on the heels of the recent appointment of Alan Beddie, operations director.