Award-winning chef and food innovation expert Martyn Lee has been appointed Head of Slimming World Kitchen, the recipe box subscription service from the UK’s leading weight management organisation.
With more than 20 years’ experience in food innovation and product development, Martyn joins the business from senior roles at some of the UK’s leading retailers. They include Tesco and Waitrose, where he led food innovation teams responsible for developing market-leading products and identifying emerging food trends.
Having recently marked its second anniversary, Slimming World Kitchen is looking to build on its early success by broadening its appeal beyond Slimming World members and reaching a wider audience of people seeking convenient, healthy meals.
A trained chef with a passion for bringing exciting, easy-to-make food to consumers, Martyn has built a reputation for combining culinary creativity with commercial insight. His achievements include helping to develop an award-winning runny-centred Scotch egg, recognised with a prestigious Grocer Gold Award, and more recently winning Development Chef of the Year at the 2024 Craft Guild of Chefs Awards.
Martyn says: “What attracted me to Slimming World Kitchen was the opportunity to work with a trusted brand that is helping people achieve their goals without ever losing sight of what matters most – delicious food.
“I’ve spent my career creating dishes that people genuinely enjoy eating, so I don’t want to stop now! Slimming World Kitchen is in a unique position because we can help people discover new flavours, build confidence in the kitchen and enjoy great food, while knowing every meal is supporting them on their weight-loss journey.
“I want everyone to think the same thing when they sit down to one of our meals: ‘That was absolutely delicious… what’s coming next week?’ If we can help people look forward to every meal, discover something new and build lasting habits along the way, that’s a real success.”
In his new role, Martyn will lead the continued evolution of Slimming World Kitchen’s menu offering, with a focus on delivering delicious, convenient meals that support people to lose weight without compromising on flavour, variety or enjoyment.
He continues: “As well as tasting good, the meals are also packed with nutrients, protein, fibre and plant variety. It’s such an easy way to stay on top of your health goals.”
Allison Brentnall, director of food and Ppublications at Slimming World, added: “Martyn shares our passion for spreading the word on how delicious food can be while still delivering your health goals. His experience, creativity and track record of innovation make him an excellent fit for Slimming World Kitchen and the ambitious plans in place to grow the service.
“Of course, our meal kits fit with our Food Optimising eating plan seamlessly, yet they are also perfect for anyone who wants to eat more healthily. They’re also great for anyone wanting to eat tasty meals that deliver on so many health credentials. We’re really excited for Martyn to help us reach new audiences.”
Beyond his professional achievements, Martyn brings a passion for food that stretches far beyond the workplace. Inspired by grandparents whose cooking ranged from traditional family baking to globally influenced dishes, he remains an enthusiastic home cook and sourdough baker. Outside work, he volunteers as a community first responder with the Yorkshire Ambulance Service, recently celebrating 10 years of service supporting local communities.
