Mick Jary, specification director at MEIKO UK and a veteran of international foodservice equipment brands such as Williams Refrigeration and The Manitowoc Company, passed away on Monday 15 December following a short illness.
Jary, who turned 60 this year, was a highly respected industry professional who worked on countless foodservice projects in the UK, Europe, and Russia, as well as across the Middle East, Asia, and Africa. He also served on on FCSI UK & Ireland, FCSI EAME and FCSI Worldwide boards (most recently as the EAME Allied representative) for the best part of the past 20 years and was a pioneering campaigner for the foodservice industry to operate more sustainably.
Before joining MEIKO in 2017, the Suffolk, England-born Jary spent a decade as a project manager at The Manitowoc Company (later Welbilt). Prior to that he had a four-year stint as business development manager at Williams Refrigeration. Before his venture into the equipment manufacturer side of the industry, Jary had spent four years as an equipment purchasing manager with Compass Group, following years as a chef in hotels and restaurants in London.
“Kindness, integrity, and a willingness to support others“
“Mick was a valued and long-standing member of the MEIKO family, and his contribution to the business and to those who worked alongside him was significant,” says Paul Anderson, managing director of MEIKO UK. “He was known not only for his professionalism and commitment, but also for his kindness, integrity, and willingness to support others. Mick approached his work with pride and dedication, always striving to do the right thing and to represent MEIKO in the best possible way.”
Beyond his role, “Mick was someone people genuinely enjoyed being around,” adds Anderson. “He built strong relationships with colleagues, customers, and partners alike, and he will be remembered for his approachable manner, sense of humour, and quiet reliability. He made a lasting impression on those who had the privilege of working with him, and his absence will be deeply felt across the organisation. On behalf of everyone at MEIKO, I would like to extend our sincere condolences to Mick’s family, friends, and loved ones at this very difficult time.”
Jary leaves behind “a legacy of professionalism, warmth, and respect,” says Anderson. “He will always be remembered as a valued colleague and a true gentleman. He will be missed immensely.”
“A formidable presence”
Jary’s passing has provoked an outpouring of sentiment from the countless industry colleagues whom Jary had worked with and supported over the years. Julian Edwards FCSI, chair of FCSI UK & Ireland, gave his own personal reflection of a man who had dedicated years to FCSI, which was extremely dear to his heart.
“Mick has been a constant support to me, FCSI UK, FCSI EAME and FCSI Worldwide for many, many years,” he says. “He had a formidable presence, but once he got to know you he would show a personal side that certainly clicked with me – his love of music (he was in a band in his past, I believe), rugby and being a chef. With his craft background, superb technical know-how and passion for sustainability – from food waste to embodied carbon – Mick proved to be a powerhouse of knowledge, but also a keen supporter of connecting people to pursue solutions in collaboration,” says Edwards.
“He shared, supported, and inspired. And whenever a telephone call started with ‘JULIAN’ in his bold tone, you had to listen and do something about it! Therese, his wife, whom he was smitten with, featured in many conversations. He and I shared personal details over the years, because he made it comfortable and safe to do so,” adds Edwards.
“Mick, FCSI UK Director Louise Willis, and I visited Liverpool in the summer of 2024 to get the 2026 FCSI EAME conference planning started. It’s heartbreaking to imagine him not on the team anymore. But, I assure you, he is and always will be.”
Mick Jary: 1965 – 2025
Michael Jones
