Erik WallinRecipe shopping technology provider Northfork has appointed Mark Rogers as its new VP of Growth. The appointment will allow the company to capitalise on the increase in online grocery sales triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic.
The global health crisis has caused retailers around the world to accelerate their digital transformation initiatives, amidst unprecedented demand for online grocery shopping. New features on their platforms, such as Northfork’s recipe shopping technology, can provide customers with a seamless, personalised digital experience.
Head of Growth Mark Rogers will be based in the UK, rather than at Northfork’s Swedish headquarters. His priority will be to build a stronger international presence for the brand through partnerships in multiple countries.
“We are striving for international growth through partnerships outside of Sweden. We are already well established in the US, through our work with Walmart and Tasty. The UK is our next market for growth. It’s the toughest retail market in the world, so we are thrilled to have Mark Rogers as VP of Growth to head up our work there, as well as in other regions.”
Online shopping in the UK boomed when the pandemic struck, with sales shooting up by 91% in the four weeks to 14 June 2020. Demand for online groceries has continued to rise since then. Kantar’s latest figures show a rise in online grocery sales of 77% year on year in the four weeks to 6 September 2020. Online grocery shopping now accounts for 12.5% of total sales in the UK, with the cumulative increase in orders since lockdown began amounting to £3.2 billion.
Northfork’s technology enables retailers to grow their digital offering by making it easier, faster and more enjoyable for customers to shop online. The company allows retailers to boost their omnichannel marketing strategies in order to meet increased demand, dependency and consumer expectation. The solution quickly pays dividends, with shopping through recipes being 50% faster and thus driving increased conversions.
“I am excited to be joining the Northfork team. The organisation is uniquely positioned to capitalize on the fast-changing environment and to make shopping online seamless for all. I look forward to supporting not just Northfork’s growth but that of all our retail partners, using my passion for building strategic partnerships at the intersection of tech, consumer choice and behavioural data.”
Mark comes to Northfork from his role as General Manager of Europe at BuzzFeed Inc. He has also served as Vice President of Asia Pacific at Dow Jones. His experience at BuzzFeed included witnessing Northfork in action first-hand and seeing the impact of digitisation and personalisation as the company supported the Tasty and Walmart online shopping partnership.
At Northfork, Mark will be supporting international expansion and revenue growth, working with clients to deliver an ever-evolving customer experience.
“Food retailers are embracing the technology investments required to deliver increased omnichannel revenue and improving the shopper experience in order to thrive. Northfork is brilliantly positioned to help retailers achieve this and to build long-term value. We are delighted that Mark will be spearheading our efforts in the UK, as well as in other international locations.”
Erik Wallin
Louise Taylor
