O’Loughlin leaves Simply Fresh as fallout from collapse of Sainsbury’s supply deal continues

Michael O’Loughlin joined Simply Fresh last year as its partnership with Sainsbury’s was getting underway and he was a key factor in the recruitment of retailers to the model.

He announced his departure on social media, thanking his colleagues and the company for their backing.

He will officially leave Simply Fresh in December.

O’Loughlin has previously served on the independent board of the Association of Convenience Stores and had non-executive roles at Eurofood Services and Freshly Chopped UK.

In July this year Sainsbury’s announced – to the surprise of Simply Fresh – that it was closing its wholesale division entirely.

The supermarket explained that it had done this so that it could focus on other aspects of its business.

The Simply Fresh retailers still taking Sainsbury’s supplies have the option of continuing to receive them until August 2022, although some have already chosen to move on.

These include Essex-based retailer Ajay Odedra who said in September that he has already switched from Simply Fresh to Spar.