Chief Executive Officer Hiro joined Mizkan Euro in 2022, bringing with him more than 30 years’ experience within multi-national Japanese Food businesses. He worked for Ajinomoto and Kameda Seika, where he started his career in Sales, then went on and gained experience in Marketing, SCM, New Business Development, Project Management and Corporate Planning. Hiro has worked in Japan, Germany, and Belgium as well as leading international businesses in Asia-Pacific, EMEA, US and Brazil.

Hiro’s strong philosophy and focus at Mizkan is to deeply understand the operating environment through GEMBA activities (seeing things with your own eyes), to face the facts and to embrace challenges to achieve Mizkan’s Future Vision. A cornerstone of this philosophy is to drive growth through offering customers and consumers in the UK and EU only the finest products.

Hiro’s Mizkan Meal
Ramen and Gyoza (Japanese Dumplings) with Mizkan Yuzu Ponzu.

Chief Financial Officer Taka joined Mizkan Euro in 2024. He started his career as a Chartered Accountant at PwC before moving to a Pharmaceutical Company. Taka joined the Mizkan Group back in 2014 where he was based in Japan and Chicago. His wide range of involvement in Financial Management of Japan Business, Global Internal Audit, Governance Structure Project, Group Financial Consolidation, and International Tax Compliance contributed towards improving the Group’s accounting and tax quality.

Taka strives to ensure Mizkan is a great place for the team members to work through working on strategies for Mizkan Euro’s continuous profitable growth, in order to offer customers our finest products.

Taka’s Mizkan Meal
Cheese with Branston Original Pickle

Operations Director Simon joined Mizkan Euro in the Summer of 2021, bringing with him 25 years’ experience within FMCG Food Operations, Supply Chain & LEAN manufacturing. Simon’s career began as a Distribution Trainee with Bryant and May Ltd, this was followed by a decade with Nestle Rowntree within Production, Planning & Project Management. He then turned his focus on operational improvement as Manufacturing Specialist for the DTI, supporting SMEs, before returning to confectionery and biscuits with Fox’s for 10 years and later to Site General Manager of their flagship factory in West Yorkshire. Simon gained multi-site experience with ABF, heading up 11 sites across the UK.

Simon brings to Mizkan a style that is both creative and collaborative, focussed on delivering sustainable, long-term improvement both with and through his teams.

Simon’s Mizkan Meal
Quality Fish & Chips seasoned with a generous splashing of Sarson’s Malt Vinegar

Quality & Technical Director Alison joined Mizkan Euro in 2018. She has over 25 years of experience in the food industry in technical and product development, including own-label. She has travelled the world working on major projects for retailers such as Tesco. She later set up her own consultancy company and helped food manufacturers solve problems to meet retail standards. Before joining Mizkan, she spent 12 years with Hain Daniels as Group Technical Director across three divisions: chilled, frozen, and grocery. Alison strives to ensure all consumers have a great experience with Mizkan foods.

Alison’s Mizkan Meal
Sarson’s Pickle In 15 with vegetables and marinade.

Marketing Director Marketing Director Vanni joined Mizkan Euro in 2019 with over 15 years of experience in international marketing in FMCG. His career started at Unilever, Italy in the EMEA Household care team, then he moved to the UK where he spent most of his career working on the Savoury portfolio (Colman’s, Marmite and Knorr).
During his tenure at Unilever, he strengthened the equity of the brands and delivered consistent topline growth.

Vanni’s focus is to drive the growth agenda by looking after Mizkan’s core British brands, growing our Japanese division and by innovating our portfolio in line with the principles of the Mizkan vision statement. He is passionate about putting Mizkan marketing and our brands at the heart of the consumer insights.

Vanni’s Mizkan Meal
Avocado salad seasoned with Mizkan Shiraghiku

Supply Chain & Procurement Director Mark joined Mizkan Euro in 2020 as Head of Supply Chain with over 20 years of experience in Global Supply Chain. His career began in Black & Decker where his journey started in Supply Chain. Since then, he has worked across the world for a variety of companies and industries, in both Operations and Planning before finally returning to the UK with Mizkan. His depth of Supply Chain knowledge has been instrumental in bringing real benefit and insight to ME’s Supply Chain progression. His impact has been so successful that Mark was promoted to the Supply Chain & Procurement Director at the beginning of 2023.

Mark’s Mizkan Meal
Sausage & Chips with Sarsons Malt Vinegar

Sales Director Tracey joined Mizkan Euro in 2023. She has spent over 25 years in the food industry leading Sales & Category teams across both UK and EMEA. Her career began at Unilever as a graduate trainee in their Frozen Food division, moving to the Danone water business, and latterly into Jordans Dorset Ryvita, part of Associated British Foods. Tracey’s experience spans Grocery Retail in UK & Europe, Distributor Management, new market entry & category management. Tracey is passionate about bringing the customer lens into the business to help shoppers & consumers experience the great Mizkan products.

Tracey’s Mizkan Meal
Cheese & Biscuits, with a selection of our Branston Chutneys & Piccalilli

Finance & IT Director Camilla joined Mizkan at the start of its European journey in 2013 as the Group Financial Controller. She began her professional journey at Deloitte, London where she qualified as a Chartered Accountant.

Camilla gained broad experience in various roles post audit in the IT & Food industry, working for the BBC, Siemens and a private equity backed Food Group.

Camilla has gained a wealth of experience in Finance in various areas including Manufacturing, FP&A, Cashflow management, M&A, Business Integration, Business restructuring & Tax planning as well as undertaking several ERP implementations.

Camilla is passionate about driving profitable, sustainable growth through continuous improvement, a collaborative approach and leveraging new technology.

Camilla’s Mizkan Meal
Sarson’s Malt Vinegar sprinkled over oven chips.

HR Director Hayley has been with Mizkan Euro from the start, she has been at the Middleton site for a number of years in a variety of roles. Her career started in production and then she experienced a variety of other operational roles, before the natural progression into HR in 2011. Hayley has built up her career successfully in numerous HR roles, including HR Business Partner to both of the production sites of the company, before being promoted to HR Director in May 2024. Hayley’s focus is to ensure that Mizkan is an environment where the culture promotes engagement and growth.

Hayley’s Mizkan Meal
Fish and Chips with a sprinkling of Sarson’s Malt Vinegar