Ian Stone, the newly elected president and chair of the British Frozen Food Federation has used his inaugural speech to call for renewed government support for members supplying foodservice and hospitality, the BFFF says. Stone, who is chief commercial officer and managing director of Wiltshire Farm Foods, part of the apetito group, said that many members may go out of business before recovery from the pandemic starts next year.
“I am particularly aware of how challenging it must be for our members with exposure to the out of the home market as they continue to bear the brunt of restrictions imposed by the Government. Unfortunately, the latest tier changes announced this week will not bring the hope that the out of the home market has been looking for. The market is opening in name only and there is now a real danger that restrictions will result in swathes of pubs, restaurants, and clubs – supplied by wholesalers and food manufacturers – going out of business before the eagerly anticipated vaccines arrive,” the BFFF president said.
Stone also highlighted growing awareness of frozen food’s role in helping reduce food waste, saying that it is becoming ever more evident that food waste has a massive impact on the environment. From the depletion of natural resources in making food that is then thrown away, to the emissions created by the food waste itself. Reducing food waste will be key if the UK is to meet current net-zero carbon emissions by 2030, according to a BFFF statement.
Ian Stone, who was elected at the AGM, takes over from previous BFFF president and chairman Nigel Broadhurst, who until July also served as joint managing director of Iceland Foods.