James Macsween, managing director of Macsween of Edinburgh, has been appointed as the new Chair of FDF Scotland. He succeeds Jim Fox, head of public affairs at Coca-Cola Europacific Partners, who has retired.
Joining Macsween is Katherine Dure, European legal counsel at Baxters Food Group, who will assume the role of Vice Chair.
Upon his appointment, Macsween stated: “I am honoured to lead FDF Scotland at such a pivotal time for our industry. My focus will be on driving sustainable growth and ensuring that our members have the support they need to thrive.”
A Vision for a ‘Stronger, Resilient Sector’
“Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient sector that continues to deliver high-quality food and drink that people enjoy at home and across the world.”
Macsween quickly outlined his priorities as chair, focusing on enhancing the long-term growth of Scotland’s food and drink manufacturing sector.
Facing challenges such as rising minimum wage and National Insurance costs, he emphasized the importance of avoiding additional financial burdens through other policies and legislation.
In light of these issues, FDF Scotland has urged the Scottish Government to collaborate with the UK nations to establish consistent food and drink regulations. They also advocate for the allocation of a ring-fenced fund aimed at de-risking innovation related to de-carbonisation. Additionally, support is needed for creating and implementing a national food and drink net-zero transition plan.
For a detailed list of recommendations, please refer to the information below.
The Fabric of the Community
David Thomson, Chief Executive of FDF Scotland, remarked: “Our members across Scotland are part of the fabric of local communities and have been for generations, providing jobs, investment, and of course, great food and drink to feed our families.”
“However, these businesses are also facing several challenges, which we believe could be mitigated by minimizing the cost and complexity of regulations, de-risking innovation around de-carbonisation, and ensuring food and drink manufacturers have the skills that they need.”
“We are committed to working closely with the Scottish Government and other stakeholders to create an environment where our businesses can flourish. I would like to thank James and Katherine for taking on their new roles as Chair and Vice Chair. Their leadership will be instrumental in guiding our industry towards a prosperous future.”
In another update, Katie Pettifer has been appointed the new Chief Executive of the Food Standards Agency.
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