Sheppard’s 18-year career at apetito initially encompassed accounting and commercial roles, working across the community meals, manufacturing and foodservice sectors, before establishing the Care Homes division in 2008.
Sheppard said: “As a major provider of high quality, nutritious food for care homes, hospitals and community meals services, apetito has an important part to play in raising awareness of the impact good food can have on health and wellbeing.
“Innovations such as our ground-breaking texture-modified meals for those with chewing and swallowing difficulties have had a major impact on those who rely on our meals. By working even closer with the sectors we serve, we can continue to innovate and develop new products that will make a real difference to the lives of some of the most vulnerable people in society.”
Sheppard’s new role will include managing apetito’s relationships with key groups across the health and social care sector, identifying future trends and opportunities, as well as influencing policy and process across health and social care.
Apetito, founded in 1958 by Karl Düsterberg, is the main provider of ‘meals on wheels’ in the UK and operate in Germany, the Netherlands, the UK, Canada and France.