In the Kitchen with… Helen Mulford

Welcome to another edition of In the Kitchen, where we go behind the scenes with the people who make foodservice tick. This time, we’re chatting with Helen Mulford, Commercial Manager at Compleat Foodservice. From her early days in a tearoom to managing relationships across the foodservice sector, Helen’s journey is all about passion – for food, people, and innovation.

So, grab a cuppa and join us as Helen shares her career story, her love for food, and what makes working at Compleat so exciting!

Tell us about your career so far?

I’m passionate about food and hospitality and have been fortunate to build a career entirely within this industry. From my first role as a waitress in a National Trust tearoom, to becoming a National Account Manager for a global foodservice wholesaler, and now serving as Commercial Manager at Compleat, one of the UK’s leading food manufacturers. People and product have always been at the heart of what I do.

What attracted you to a career in food?

Food is an emotive subject – it connects people, sparks memories and engages all the senses. I love how we can expand our imagination within the products we create, by taking those familiar flavours and turning them into something new and exciting. For me, the appeal lies in sharing that joy through exceptional service and quality products. I can’t see what there isn’t to love about a career in food!

Tell us about your role at Compleat?

As a Commercial Manager in Foodservice, I manage relationships between our manufacturing facility and wholesale groups across the UK, ensuring our products reach venues where food is served out of home. It’s a dynamic role that involves building strong partnerships with key stakeholders, from head office procurement teams to individual members, whilst also collaborating internally across departments here at Compleat.

What does a typical day look like?

The best part of my role is the variety. Whilst most days start with checking emails, the focus quickly shifts to anything from facilitating new product development projects, preparing financial and commercial reports, implementing marketing plans, or representing Compleat at tradeshows. No two days are ever the same, and that’s what keeps this role fresh and exciting!

What attracted you to Compleat?

The diversity and strength of the brands within Compleat was a big draw for me. It’s an ambitious, fast-growing business that’s constantly pushing boundaries in foodservice. I was also impressed by the reputation for quality and innovation across the group, with so many award-winning products and brands that deliver exceptional taste and reliability, which really sets them apart.

Finally, I was drawn to the heritage of Wrights as an iconic pastry brand. Wrights will celebrate its centenary in 2026, and we’re already planning something special. Keep an eye out for how you can join us in the celebrations!

What’s your favourite Compleat product?

It has to be our award-winning Indonesian Chickpea and Coconut soup from The Real Soup Company. It’s absolutely delicious and full of flavour!

What do you love the most about your job?

Without a doubt, it’s the people – both our customers and my colleagues. We all share a passion for the journey food takes before it reaches the plate. At Compleat, we’re driven by a mission to create high-quality, tasty, and affordable food that people love to eat. Just as importantly, we’re committed to doing this sustainably, making a positive impact on the world and supporting the wellbeing of the communities around us. For me, that purpose is what makes the job truly rewarding.

Are you working on anything particularly exciting or that you really enjoy at the moment?

We’re right in the middle of exhibition season, which means plenty of miles for the team, and for our products! There’s nothing more gratifying than hearing feedback firsthand from customers. We recently had amazing feedback from a customer, who said ‘Your pastry really can’t be beaten. It’s flaky, and our customers love the quality and taste. It’s one of our top sellers.’ Moments like that make all the hard work worthwhile!

What would surprise people about your job or The Compleat Food Group?

What might surprise people is the incredible heritage behind Compleat’s brands. We have over 432 years of success with our top pastry brands alone, and a staggering combined heritage of around 625 years across the Group’s portfolio. That’s a lot of years of delivering food to feel good!

What’s your favourite thing to do outside of work?

Family, friends and community are central to my life outside of work.  The children and I can often be found getting involved in various local fundraising events or exploring the Cheshire countryside – this usually ends with us sharing a homemade dinner at ours. It’s always about the food!

Want to get to know more of our colleagues on the foodservice team? Have a read of Salli Bateman, Anthony Choi, Howard Edwards, and James Whitbourn’s blogs!