Food and Drink Sector Council
The Food and Drink Sector Council is a formal industry partnership with government.
Role of the group
Some of the big challenges and opportunities facing the agri-food chain will only be addressed and seized through industry and the government working together. The Food and Drink Sector Council (FDSC) brings senior leaders representing the whole of the agri-food chain together with the government to address those strategic issues and seize opportunities facing the agri-food chain.
The FDSC is currently scoping the following areas of work:
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Future of food: an industry perspective on the future of the food system.
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Sustainability: looking at Net Zero with a focus on scope 3 emissions.
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Workforce: considering recommendations of the Independent Review into Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain. Applying this to the wider supply chain, linking into the retail and hospitality sector councils. This work is being led by Ash Amirahmadi, Chief Executive Officer of Sofina Foods Europe, supported by Sarah Bradbury, Chief Executive Officer of Institute of Grocery Distribution.
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Food supply resilience: a whole supply chain view to assess, manage and communicate risks in the mid to long term.
Membership
The members of the Food and Drink Sector Council are senior industry individuals with wide experience from across the sector. The Council will be a mechanism for the industry to engage with the government to deliver shared objectives. The membership includes representatives from across the entire food chain, covering farming, manufacturing, wholesale, retail, hospitality and delivery platforms.
Seats on the FDSC are currently fully allocated. If you would like to be considered during the next recruitment round for the council, please email fdsc@defra.gov.uk and we will contact you when we are next seeking applications.
Co-Chairs
- Industry Co-Chair: Tim J Smith CBE
- Government Co-Chair: Minister Mark Spencer – Minister of State (Minister for Food)
Members
- Ash Amirahmadi: Chief Executive Officer, Sofina Foods Europe
- Anne Anderson: Head of Sustainability and Development, Scottish Sea Farms
- Karen Betts: Chief Executive Officer, Food and Drink Federation
- James Bielby: Chief Executive Officer, Federation of Wholesale Distributors
- Sarah Bradbury: Chief Executive Officer, Institute of Grocery Distribution
- Ian Burrow: National Head of Agriculture, NatWest Group
- Joe Clarke: National Officer, UNITE
- Sue Davies: Head of Consumer Rights and Food Policy / Strategic Policy Advisor, WHICH?
- John Farrand: Managing Director, Guild of Fine Food
- Beth Hart: Vice President of Supply Chain and Brand Trust (UK and Ireland), McDonalds
- Chris Jewitt: Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Food and Drink North East
- Andrew Knowles: Chief Executive Officer, Fram Farmers Ltd
- Claire Lorains: Group Quality Director, Tesco
- Robin Mills: Managing Director (UK and Ireland), Compass Group
- Nigel Murray: Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer, Booths
- Kate Nicholls: Chief Executive Officer, UKHospitality
- Andrew Opie: Director, Food and Sustainability, British Retail Consortium
- Matthew Price: General Manager (UK and Ireland), Uber Eats
- Jason Richards: Senior Vice President and General Manager (UK and Ireland), Pepsico
- James Russell: Managing Director, AF Blakemore and Son
- Nicholas Saphir: Chair, Agricultural and Horticultural Development Board (AHDB)
- Richard Watson: Chief Executive Officer, Nestle UK&I
- Nick Whelan: Chief Executive Officer, Dale Farm
- Thomas Bradshaw: President, National Farmers Union
- David Lloyd: Chair of the Food and Drink Wales Industry Board
Terms of reference
Summaries of meetings
We aim to publish a summary as soon as possible after each meeting:
Minutes from earlier meetings are available on the National Archives website.
Planned meetings 2024
- 29 April 2024
Archived website
The previous FDSC website, fdsc.org.uk, has been archived. Content from this website can be requested by contacting the secretariat.