After a quarter of a century, Professor David Hughes has announced his retirement as non-executive director from the Berry Gardens board.
Professor Hughes is an eminent international speaker on the global food industry, and an Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing at Imperial College, London.
During his tenure, Berry Gardens has grown from a £10 million business to one with a turnover in excess of £200 million in 2012.
He said:“Twenty years ago, fresh berries were highly seasonal and forgotten about for much of the year. The supply base has been revolutionized, growing berries is now a high investment business with British growers leading the field in production technology.
“As a co-operative owned by its growers, Berry Gardens has achieved a seamless supply chain bringing growers and retailers even closer together.”
He adds: 'Whilst the fresh produce market in Europe has remained static, berries are one significant area that have experienced substantial growth. This is due to several factors including all year availability, new varieties, better and more consistent quality fruit and the ongoing ‘5 A Day’ campaign. Plus UK consumers love home grown fresh berries!”
Nicholas Marston, managing director of Berry Gardens, said: “Over the years, Professor Hughes’ insight has been invaluable and I am sure we will continue to benefit from his experience and knowledge for many years to come.'
Professor Hughes will continue speaking at global conferences and working with international food and drink businesses.
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