3 Leaders from Food & Beverage Giants take up Chairmanship

Top leaders at McCain, Kellogg’s UK and Coca-Cola GB will be taking on chairmanship of three important Food and Drink Federation (FDF) steering groups.

FDF has appointed Nick Vermont, Regional CEO of McCain Foods (GB) Ltd, as the Sustainability Steering Group Chair; Jonathan Myers, Managing Director of Kellogg’s UK, as the Health and Wellbeing Steering Group Chair; and Jon Woods, General Manager – Great Britain and Ireland for Coca-Cola Great Britain, as the Competitiveness Steering Group Chair.

The Sustainability Steering Group

The Sustainability Steering Group provides FDF’s strategic lead on sustainability and environmental issues affecting the well-being of the food and drink industry. FDF”s Five-fold Environmental Ambition launched in 2007 is overseen by the group.

Nick Vermont, Regional CEO, McCain Foods (GB) Ltd and Chair of the Sustainability Steering Group, said:

“I am delighted to assume the role of Chair of the FDF Sustainability Steering Group. It is clear that FDF members are committed to making a significant contribution to improving the environment and their positive achievements are evident in the 2014 Five-fold Environmental Ambition progress report. Collectively we now need to build on these excellent results and ensure that the UK food and drink industry remains one of the most sustainable and efficient in the world, for the generations to come.”

Health and Wellbeing Steering Group

The Health and Wellbeing Steering Group works with members to promote good practice in enabling consumers to lead heathier lives; to showcase industry’s efforts in product reformulation and health at work initiatives; and to engage positively with Government and stakeholders in tackling obesity.

Jonathan Myers, Kellogg’s UK Managing Director and Chair of the Health and Wellbeing Steering Group, said:

“Food companies have played a significant role in helping to improve the health of the nation by removing billions of calories and thousands of tonnes of salt. We are now launching new ‘better for you’ foods and encouraging people to be more active. I passionately believe the food industry can be part of the solution to the challenges we face, which is why it’s a great honour to be leading our collective efforts in health and wellbeing.”

Competitiveness Steering Group

FDF”s shared vision for 20% sustainable growth by 2020 is at the core of the Competitiveness Steering Group’s agenda which includes skills and employment, exports and innovation. The first students embarking on the UK’s first food engineering Master’s level degree at Sheffield Hallam University and working with industry to develop the specification for the National Centre of Excellence for Food Engineering are among the group’s achievements for 2014.

Jon Woods, General Manager – Great Britain and Ireland for Coca-Cola Great Britain and Chair of the Competitiveness Steering Group, said:

“I am delighted to have been appointed as Chair of FDF’s Competitiveness Steering Group. It is very exciting to be leading this committee in an exciting election year, where we have an opportunity to really influence the competitiveness agenda of the future Government. I am looking forward to working with the members of the steering group to ensure that the UK food and drink manufacturing industry leads world class innovation and is recognised as a great place to work.”

Food Safety and Science Steering Group

FDF’s Food Safety and Science Steering Group monitors, evaluates and seeks to influence scientific and regulatory issues that affect the UK food and drink industry. Martin Douglas OBE, Managing Director UK and Ireland at Cargill, is the current chair of the Food Safety and Scientific Steering Group.

Jim Moseley, Director General at the Food and Drink Federation, said:

“I’m delighted to welcome three superbly qualified Steering Group Chairs. I look forward to working with all of them as we demonstrate how essential food and drink is to life and the economy, how responsible we are in terms of health, wellbeing and sustainability and how our products are enjoyed by the nation.”