Q&A with You Matter Executive Sponsor - Karl Atkins, Chief Executive Officer of Foodbuy Group
As Chief Executive Officer of Foodbuy Group, Karl leads the business to ensure the team are always delivering great procurement solutions to their members’ client base.
Previously, Karl was in the Chief Operating Officer role at Foodbuy – where his focus was supporting the growth of Foodbuy’s external client business. He previously held commercial leadership roles with Coca-Cola European Partners and Britvic. Prior to that, Karl spent several years in grocery retail in a number of different commercial and supply chain roles.
He has recently taken on the role of Executive Sponsor for our You Matter colleague network. On Time To Talk Day, he tells us what this involves and why it is important.
Tell us more about the network.
You Matter aims to promote and support the mental health and wellbeing of our colleagues. The network focuses on creating a positive working environment which supports employee wellbeing, creates a culture of openness and acceptance around mental health, encourages colleagues to look out for each other’s mental health as well as their own. It also creates the time to talk, ensuring that managers and colleagues know where to go for support in dealing with issues that might arise.
What is your role for You Matter?
My role is to listen, discuss and debate with the network on ideas and to empower the team to take the right actions to keep building a culture of support, awareness and openness on all things wellbeing.
A key part of this position is providing strategic advice, so that our network aligns our goals with the overarching goals of Compass and Foodbuy Group. I also act as a key part of the communication to other leaders within the business – talking about what we’re doing and why to raise awareness of the network’s ambitions.
It’s an absolute privilege collaborating and supporting this network on something I am so passionate about.
Why is it important to you?
The physical, mental and emotional wellbeing of our employees is my priority. With the ever increasing pressures that come with evolving ways of working, as we look towards a shift to work-life fusion, it is more important than ever that we look out for one another and create an open and accepting culture.
I am delighted to see so many of our employees go through the Mental Health First Aider programmes, showcasing how important it is to our teams to get a better understanding of how we can look out for one another.
What’s coming up?
The three focus areas for the You Matter Network during 2025 are:
1) Time to Talk Day
2) World Suicide Prevention Day
3) World Mental Health Day.
Each area is about giving us an opportunity in raising awareness, reducing stigma and coming together to support mental wellbeing across our business.
