First joining the company as a national sales manager in 2008, Steve became sales director in 2016. Since then, Steve has spearheaded growth of more than 150%, taking the business to a turnover in excess of £4m and becoming the exclusive distributor for several new manufacturers in the process.
Steve’s love for foodservice began when he trained in hotel and catering management at Norwich City College. He went on to become an chef, working in several fast-paced high-footfall sites, before hanging up his chef whites in return for a career in catering equipment sales.
He commented: “To take charge of a business with a heritage spanning some seven decades is a real honour – I genuinely see my role as one of a custodian, ensuring the company continues to thrive under my leadership and the ongoing commitment of the wonderful team we have.
“I would like to take this opportunity to thank Bob for his incredible dedication of more than 40 years with Valentine & CuisinEquip, growing it from a small distributor to the nationally and internationally renowned business we are today. I would also like to thank our customers, dealers, distributors and partners for their ongoing support – it’s very much appreciated.”