Meet the Team at Deliciously Yorkshire

The Deliciously Yorkshire team are committed to supporting our membership and championing Yorkshire food and drink in every way possible.

We have one full time member of staff along with a board made up of food and drink industry professionals who meet six times per year.

Deliciously Yorkshire Staff

Allison Kane

ALLISON KANE

Role: Business Development Manager

Email: allisonk@deliciouslyorkshire.co.uk 

Telephone: 01423 546200

Allison joined the team at Deliciously Yorkshire in October 2016 and focuses primarily on membership development and strategic partnerships. Allison has a strong commercial background having returned to the UK after 13 years running a successful Business Development, Partnership and Membership Marketing, Business Consulting, Representation and Digital Marketing company in Dubai. Her extensive experience gives her a great insight and understanding into the challenges and opportunities of running a SME. Prior to this she held a range of operational and commercial roles at both American Express and Thomas Cook. Allison’s experience and skill in identifying business and revenue development opportunities and finding creative ways to build and add value will be a great asset to DY and our members and allow her to indulge in all the things she is passionate about – great local food, Yorkshire and business development.

Deliciously Yorkshire Board Members

MARK STODDART

Mark Stoddart

Role: Chair of Deliciously Yorkshire

Mark is currently the Financial Controller of the Yorkshire Agricultural Society and has been for the past 16 years. In his spare time he is the Chair of the Association of Show and Agricultural Organisations, the voice of the agricultural show industry, and chair of the Admiral Long foundation, a charity that owns the local school building in Nidderdale.

JULIAN WILD

Julian Wild

Role: Board Member

Julian Wild has been a solicitor for over 40 years and has worked in and around the food industry for almost all his career. For 26 years Julian was a senior executive in Northern Foods plc and for the last 15 years has been the Food Group Director at Rollits, a law firm in Hull and York specialising in the food industry. Julian has been a non-executive director of Macphie of Glenbervie and Shepcote as well as many charities and not-for-profit organisations. He is also an experienced mediator.

RICHARD HOLMES

Role: Board Member

Richard Holmes is the managing director of Cryer & Stott Cheesemongers Ltd.

An artisan cheesemonger who has led the business for 24 years, from a basic provision stall in Wakefield market to now a thriving wholesale business which supplies over 200 retailers, gastro pubs, hotels, sporting stadiums & Michelin starred restaurants.

Described by Liz Truss, cabinet minister as a ‘’Food Hero’ Richard is passionate about getting small artisan produce into the finest restaurants the country. Richards numerous accolades include meeting & supplying Her Majesty the Queen & having the honour of a royal visit by HRH the Princess Royal. 

On a personal note, Richard is an avid Leeds United supporter. He’s married to long suffering wife Clare whom he shares two children & enjoys walking Cheddar the dog!  

DAVID WHITTLE

Role: Board Member

David Whittle co-founded the branding agency CHILLI over 25 years ago which specialises in food and drink. He also founded its sister agency RELAX in Australia. His experience in the food and retail industry is extensive ranging from managing the strategic design account for the Co-op to working on other national and international brands such as Cadbury, Ocean Spray and Florette. He has also worked on a host of Yorkshire food brands including Wensleydale Creamery, Vale of Mowbray and Jacksons of Yorkshire. He is a Fellow of the Chartered Institute of Marketing and a Fellow of the Australian Marketing Institute.

RAZAN ALSOUS

Role: Board Member

Razan is the founder and owner of Yorkshire Dama Cheese. She has a scientific background and specializes in laboratory science. Razan has also studied languages and civilization at Paris Sorbonne university – abu Dhabi which enriches her diversity vision and skills. Originally, she is from Syria, she fled the war and came to the UK, she challenged her circumstances and found a new life. Deliciously yorkshire was the organization that spotted her entrepreneurial skills and supported her through her journey until today. Razan is joining the board team at DY to give back the love and support they once gave her and to have an effective role supporting other food businesses. She was selected to be The Women Of The Year in 2016. She is the ambassador of start-up loan. 

Razan has also been honored to be recognized by The Royal Family numerous times.

JENNIE PALMER

Role: Board Memember

For the last 12 years Jennie has worked within her family’s business, Breckenholme, leading the marketing, design and development of Breckenholme’s regional and national brands, Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil and Charlie & Ivy’s. Whilst working as Marketing Manager at Breckenholme, Jennie also offers freelance support to small businesses’ aiding them with their marketing and creative requirements.

“Passionate about all things food and drink I’m madly proud of the community of food producers, farmers and small businesses I have the pleasure to work alongside over the last 12 years. I love to cook, and food is always at the centre of my family and work life. My life has been spent within independent, creative businesses and my past as a costume designer and maker and as a freelancer helps me see the industry from a fresh creative perspective.”

Jennie continues to work collaboratively with fellow food producers within Yorkshire Rapeseed Oil’s Yorkshire Stories and EAT Yorkshire campaigns and is excited to be able to support Deliciously Yorkshire and its members as it moves forward. 

CHRIS WILDMAN

Role: Board Member

Chris Wildman has been involved in Yorkshire Food from an early age as a 5th generation butcher, charcutier & retailer.  A passionate local food evangelist based in the Yorkshire Dales at Town End Farm Shop & Wildman Charcuterie & Salumi in Malhamdale.

STEVE ASHMAN

Role: Board Member

Steve background is retail with an impressive 30 years in various roles at Tesco. He is currently Director of Training, Service and Sales at Rounton Coffee.  He is a shopkeeper at heart with a passion for service and relationships. His ethos is that people matter as much as product and in business profit is the gift. When not at home or doing anything to do with coffee Steve can be found on a beach , a motorbike, cooking or jumping from perfectly good airplanes. 

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