Mark Chantler
Founder
Mark has a 1st class honours degree in economics from Newcastle University. Following which, he played poker professionally for 4 years. Mark’s experience as a poker player taught him a huge amount about both business and investing, including how to size positions, how to deal with adversity and the difference between uncertainty and risk.
In 2011, Mark joined Meadow Foods, a dairy-based ingredients business owned by his father and another family. Having successfully grown the ingredients division, Mark become CEO in 2016 and more latterly Chairman.
During Mark’s tenure as CEO, he expanded Meadow into inclusions and plant-based ingredients, growing its profitability from £16M to >£40M today. He also led Meadow through three successful transactions, culminating in the 100% sale of the business to Fairfax Financial Holdings in 2024.
In addition to Meadow Foods, the Chantler family also owns Stretton Property Group, a UK-wide property development business that focusses primarily on industrial and logistics warehousing from 50-250ksq ft and Stretton Capital, a lender with a £25M loan book, providing property development and bridging loans.
mark.chantler@kingsford.com
Mark Chantler
Founder
Mark has a 1st class honours degree in economics from Newcastle University. Following which, he played poker professionally for 4 years. Mark’s experience as a poker player taught him a huge amount about both business and investing, including how to size positions, how to deal with adversity and the difference between uncertainty and risk.
In 2011, Mark joined Meadow Foods, a dairy-based ingredients business owned by his father and another family. Having successfully grown the ingredients division, Mark become CEO in 2016 and more latterly Chairman.
During Mark’s tenure as CEO, he expanded Meadow into inclusions and plant-based ingredients, growing its profitability from £16M to >£40M today. He also led Meadow through three successful transactions, culminating in the 100% sale of the business to Fairfax Financial Holdings in 2024.
In addition to Meadow Foods, the Chantler family also owns Stretton Property Group, a UK-wide property development business that focusses primarily on industrial and logistics warehousing from 50-250ksq ft and Stretton Capital, a lender with a £25M loan book, providing property development and bridging loans.
mark.chantler@kingsford.com
Jack Hancock
Co-Founder
Jack studied Business Finance at Durham University and went on to qualify as a chartered accountant. Jack has a fully rounded experience base within manufacturing having held senior board roles in Operations, Commercials and M&A. Jack spent 18 years at Meadow Foods with 11 years as part of the Executive Team and 7 years on the Board of Directors. In his time at Meadow Foods, Jack was pivotal in executing the strategy that took the business from a family-owned enterprise, through two successful rounds of private equity investment and then ultimately into a long-term ownership model with Fairfax Holdings.
In his roles as COO and M&A Director Jack has completed many acquisitions, then leading those businesses as MD to drive growth, maximise synergies and, where required, deliver a full business integration.
With significant experience delivering new factory builds, factory consolidations, new business units and factory turnarounds, Jack has the breadth of experience to provide the strategic, operational and commercial guidance to Kingsford’s portfolio companies.
jack.hancock@kingsford.com