Robert Langmead is co-founder of Natures Way Foods, one of the UK’s foremost fresh food and grocery companies, chairman of Natures Way Foods USA, and managing director of property developer, Kingsbridge.
Robert’s Early Life & Education
Robert was born in Chichester, West Sussex, and was educated at nearby Hurstpierpoint College. At the age of 18, and with three A-Levels, Robert left West Sussex and moved to Wales to study at the University of Wales, Swansea.
As a great lover of the outdoors, Robert often spent time biking with his friends in Wales. After graduating with a degree in business, Robert spent a year exploring Africa in a Land Rover. On his return to the UK, Robert began his career as a sales and marketing graduate at Unilever. His experience at Unilever equipped him well for founding and building his first company, Natures Way Foods.
Founding Natures Way Foods
Robert and his brother David founded Natures Way Foods in 1994 and began to supply Tesco with bagged salad. The opportunity to fill a gap in a growing market was irresistible, particularly for Robert, who at just 24 craved the freedom and excitement of running his own business. When Robert Langmead started, Natures Way Foods employed three people. Today, the company employs over 1,000 staff.
Robert In The USA
In 2006, Robert founded Wild Rocket Foods, a fresh food supplier to fresh&easy, Tesco’s North American supermarket operation. After running the business for four years and growing it to 400 employees, Robert sold Wild Rocket Foods to Tesco.
During his four years in the USA, Robert Langmead founded Fusion Floral jointly with a Californian entrepreneur Greg Muller. Fusion Floral and its sister company Ameri-Cal supplied bouquets of flowers to the West Coast supermarkets such as Safeway, Trader Joes and Kroger.
In addition, Robert invested in Better Bakery, a start-up bakery business based in Valencia in northern Los Angeles. This business was founded and run by Robert’s friend Bryan Freeman. The business produced innovative frozen sandwich melts to the likes of Walmart and Sam’s Club.
Both businesses were sold in 2015 allowing Robert to focus exclusively on growing his UK based businesses.
Founding Kingsbridge
Robert is also the founder of Kingsbridge, a property development company that began in 2004. Kingsbridge develops exceptional spaces for work, life and leisure across the South.
Kingsbridge’s experienced, award-winning team collaborates with like minded partners to create outstanding schemes with a focus on responsibility, sustainability and community.
The company is based in the South and understand what a great place it is to live, work and enjoy. It brings that passion to life in its industrial, office and town centre mixed-use developments.
Robert’s Hobbies
Outside of business, Robert is a keen sportsman and avid cyclist; he enjoys regularly competing in the Cape Argus Race, South Africa, as well as Rapha and Hot Chillie Cycling events throughout Europe including the Rapha Randonnée to Mont Ventoux and the Hot Chillie Paris to London.