Karen Poole in

Karen Poole

Observer · DISC type ci
Advisor at British Nutrition Foundation
📍 Welwyn Garden City, England, United Kingdom

Karen Poole is a retail veteran with over 25 years of experience, currently leading Bookers own-brand product division. She started her career on the Tesco graduate scheme and held senior roles there, including Head of Health & Sustainable Diets. She earned a BA in Philosophy and Politics from the University of Essex.

Outside of her primary role, Karen is deeply involved in food policy and nutrition, serving as an Advisor to the British Nutrition Foundation. She has also contributed to her local community as a Parent Governor, demonstrating a commitment to education and governance.

Interesting fact: Karen holds a WSET Level 2 (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) certification with Merit, showcasing a professional interest in the beverage sector.

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Experience
29 Years
Current Role
Advisor
Job Level
Mid-senior
Location
Welwyn Garden City, England, United Kingdom
Personality Overview

How Karen shows up

Value Driven
Example Seeker
Assertive

They are generally good communicators and can be hard to convince. They can sound friendly and charming but can quickly change gears to become inquisitive and probing. They ask a lot of questions and rely heavily on information and collaterals.

Priorities

Topics Karen cares about

Own-Brand Transformation
Currently leading a major initiative at Booker to refresh and reposition the company's own-brand portfolio to better serve foodservice customers.
Foodservice Innovation
Focused on launching on-trend products and innovative flavours to help chefs differentiate their menus and tap into consumer interest in fusion flavours.
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Career

Work history

7-2025
Advisor
British Nutrition Foundation
8-2024
Head of Own Brand
Booker Group
2-2023 - 8-2024
Parent Governor
Birchwood High School
3-2022 - 8-2024
Head of Health & Sustainable Diets
Tesco
3-2019 - 8-2024
Head of Cross Category Product Development
Tesco
In the press

Media appearances

Our Patron and Governance | British Nutrition Foundation. Featured in British Nutrition Foundation
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Education
1993 - 1996
BA (hons) 2:1 Philosophy and Politics
University of Essex
Education details unavailable
ST Pauls C of E
Social presence
in
Behavioral profile

DISC profile (public)

c

Calculativeness (C)

Calculativeness (C) reflects the degree to which a person is likely to be cautious, systematic and analytical. Those scoring high tend to emphasise quality and accuracy.

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