News article
23 July 2012
Scottish Food and Drink Federation appoints new Director
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PRESS RELEASE
Dr Colette Backwell has been appointed as the new Director of the Scottish Food
and Drink Federation (SFDF).
Dr Backwell is a respected scientist with expertise in food, nutrition, farming
and animal health. She has worked at a senior level with the Scottish
Government
and Defra and latterly Aberdeenshire Council. Dr Backwell will take up her post
on 3 September 2012 at the SFDF's Edinburgh office.
Dr Backwell said: “The food and drink manufacturing industry is Scotland's
biggest manufacturing sector, also adding value to the economy through
innovation and
direct support of other industries such as tourism and agriculture. With over
twenty years' experience of working in food production and nutrition, I am
delighted to have been given the opportunity to return to an industry in which
I
passionately believe. I look forward to working with our diverse membership
from
multinational companies to smaller, independently owned businesses.”
The Scottish Food and Drink Federation (SFDF) is an independent, industry
funded
organisation, and is a devolved division of the UK industry body the Food and
Drink Federation (FDF).
FDF Director General Melanie Leech said: “I am delighted to welcome Colette
to
FDF's top team. I look forward to working with her to continue to deliver an
excellent service to our members and the industry in Scotland.”
Food and drink is the largest manufacturing sector in the UK with a turnover of
£76.2 billion per year and contributing £20.9 billion in Gross Value Added. A
key focus of SFDF's work is on the competitiveness of the industry in Scotland
and
improving the legal and socio-economic environment in which its members
operate.
It has secured Scottish Government funding for work on product reformulation and
for a co-ordinator who manages the successful Future in Food schools and
careers
initiative that will help to secure a pipeline of well qualified and highly
trained scientists and engineers to take the industry forward.
More information
FDF press Team:
Nicki Hunt on or 020 7420 7132 - nicki.hunt@fdf.org.uk
Rebeca Wilhelm or 020 7420 7140 -
rebecca.wilhelm@fdf.org.uk
Avni Raval or 020 7420 7131 - Avni.Raval@fdf.org.uk
Anna Taylor or 020 7420 7118 - anna.taylor@fdf.org.uk
A photo of Dr Backwell is available on request.
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