323: Planet Organic CEO: 'Why we're more planet than organic'
The future of organic food has looked healthy in recent years, but how will the cost of living crisis impact the sector's growth? George Dymond, Chief Executive Officer of the organic supermarket chain Planet Organic, has a remarkable CV; featuring senior jobs at Morrisons, Tesco and Holland & Barrett. But as he has come on board at Planet Organic, there have been rapid expansion plans announced. So how do you go about executing a large expansion in a period where customers’ food and fuel prices are going up, when your own food and fuel prices are going up, and after the past couple of years of economic turmoil? It takes a fascinating combination of attributes to lead such change, especially in an organisation which has been a pioneer for organic food for a quarter of a century. George previously held a senior position at the mobile phone company, the Carphone Warehouse. Mobile phones sound like they are a-million miles away from organic food, but George thinks there is a link between his previous and current roles. Listen to the full episode to find out why he thinks sales of organic produce are on the rise, why the company is looking to increase its store count from 13 to 50 by 2025, and how the chain plans to maintain its position as a market leader, as sustainability rises to the top of many competitors' agendas. George Dymond, CEO, Planet Organic George is a senior leader with more than 20 years’ experience in the retail industry in the UK, Australia and US. He has a wealth of leadership, customer, product and buying knowledge which he has developed while working for retailers such as Coles, Carphone Warehouse and Holland & Barrett. For the last few years, George has focused in on the health and wellness sectors and has been proudly running Planet Organic since December last year.