UK – UK Flour Millers, the trade association for the flour milling industry in the UK, has elected Hovis procurement director Gary Sharkey as its new president, World Grains has reported.

The appointment took place during the organization’s annual meeting this week in Cambridge.

Sharkey, who is a former president of the European Millers Association, is described as a veteran of the grain business. He was the president of the Association in 2019 and 2020.

“I am delighted to take on the role of leading an industry that plays a crucial part in the UK’s food supply,” Sharkey said. 

He retaliated that flour is the source of about 20% of the energy in our diet. It is often described as a carbohydrate food, but it also supplies 20% of dietary protein, a third of our fiber, and around 30% of calcium, iron, and crucial B vitamins along with a smaller proportion of other essential nutrients. 

He, therefore, expressed delight leading the industry that delivers this, and the chain of which it is part, as a critical part of our food infrastructure.”

UK Flour Millers represents the flour milling industry. It has 33 full members including ADM Milling, Allied Mills, Carr’s, Hovis, Marriages, and Wrights, and 41 associate members, which account for around 99% of the flour milling capacity in Great Britain and Ireland.

Sharkey also paid tribute to his predecessor Roger Butler, chair of Whitworth Brothers, who led the industry for three years through the difficulties of Brexit, COVID, and the Russian invasion of Ukraine. 

“Roger did a tremendous job, making sure that our industry’s voice was heard through these tumultuous events,” Sharkey said.  Adding that he looked forward to carrying on this work as we face continuing volatility in energy and commodity markets, a much higher cost base, and the long-term sustainability challenge.

The appointment comes at a time when the association looks to having Alistair Gale as the chief executive officer effective June 1st.

Gale will be taking over from the Director General, Alex Waugh, who is retiring after leading the organization (formerly nabim) for more than two decades.

Gale will be joining the UK flour millers from the Port of London Authority (PLA), where he is currently the director of corporate affairs and strategy.

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