Cardfactory top dog makes the move to pet retailer Jollyes in January
There’s a cute miniature wire-haired dachshund that’s very excited about Adam Dury’s departure from Cardfactory – because his new role as chief commercial officer at pet retailer Jollyes means there should be plenty of treats in store for four-year-old Rupert, as his dad takes on his new challenge.
Among the “best talent in British retailing” according to Jollyes chief executive Joe Wykes, as the new chief operating officer Adam will join him and chairman Andy Bond on a strengthened main board in January, alongside recently-appointed chief financial officer Richard Willan.
There’s a greetings connection with new trading director hire Anne Galloway, who joins Jollyes after a 20-plus year career in buying and merchandising roles at Tesco which included looking after celebrations, while the new hires also include Katherine Patterson, who takes over as chief marketing officer after 12 years as director at Hobbycraft.
Of the latest appointments, which include Adam, CEO Joe said: “It’s a measure of the progress we’ve made that we’re now able to attract some of the best talent in British retailing to join our team. I’d like to welcome my new colleagues to the business as we continue our exciting journey serving pet parents across the UK.”
And those pet parents can already grab the advent calendars for cats and dogs which are a Jollyes’ Christmas staple – so Adam may expand that connection by using his five years’ experience as chief commercial officer at the UK’s largest specialist card retailer to suggest some new lines with the proliferation of greetings to and from the pet, as well as sympathy designs for the loss of a beloved furry friend.
As he shared during his presentation at last year’s GCA Conference & AGM, some of Cardfactory’s top-selling cards, including for Mother’s Day, are to and from the dog.
From modest beginnings in Enfield as a single store in 1971, Jollyes has grown into one of the UK’s leading pet food superstores with over 100 locations in Britain and Northern Ireland, having grown its retail estate by 50% in the last three years including last month’s new site in York, with plans for stores in East Kilbride, Leyland and Cardiff for November and an accelerated pace of openings in 2025.
This follows TDP Capital, the private equity owner of Asda, taking a majority stake in Jolleys in March this year from previous owner Kester Capital in a deal which retailing stalwart and former Asda boss Andy Bond join as chairman.
Jollyes was named 2023 Pet Retail Chain Of The Year at the Pet Industry Federation Awards and Best Retailer Under £250m turnover in the 2024 Retail Week awards, and in the summer it made the Sunday Times annual survey for the first time it as one of the best big companies to work for.
