Sophie Bambridge
B & C Farming
Sophie Bambridge
B & C Farming
Sophie took over the potato and haulage enterprises at B&C Farming in Norfolk in 2016. The business contract farms over 2000ha, with 300ha dedicated to potatoes. Half of the potatoes are for seed in Greenvale and McCain supply chains, while the rest are processed for Birds Eye and McCain. Before joining B&C Farming, Sophie worked at Barfoots in the fresh produce industry after completing the MDS Post Graduate scheme. She currently serves as the Chair of CUPGRA, facilitating potato research and industry collaboration.
Archie Gibson
Agrico UK Ltd
Archie Gibson
Agrico UK Ltd
Archie Gibson, Executive Director of Agrico UK Ltd, a subsidiary of Agrico UA, focuses on breeding and maintaining controlled potato varieties for global markets. He supports UK origin certified seed and engages with politicians to promote industry interests. Archie has served as Chairman of The Food & Drink Federation of Scotland and as Agricultural Champion advising the Scottish Government on post-BREXIT agriculture. He currently chairs the Scottish Society of Crop Research Potato subcommittee and contributes to ministerial working groups on food security.
Alex Godfrey
R J & A E Godfrey
Alex Godfrey
R J & A E Godfrey
Alex is a director of his family’s Lincolnshire based farming business, growing potatoes, sugar beet, vining peas and combinable crops. The potato operation encompasses pre-pack, crisping and seed. He is a former chairman of the NFU’s Potato Forum.
Euan Grewar
The Firm of Alan G Grewar
Euan Grewar
The Firm of Alan G Grewar
James Harrison
E G Harrison & Co & HDF Farming Ltd
James Harrison
E G Harrison & Co & HDF Farming Ltd
James of E G Harrison & Co & HDF Farming Ltd a family run farm & contract farming business based in Northeast Norfolk growing cereals, oil seed rape, grass seed, sugar beet, vining peas & potatoes. The potato enterprise produces processing, prepack & seed potatoes.
Matthew Steel
Craignathro Farms
Matthew Steel
Craignathro Farms
Matthew farms a mixed family farm at Forfar in Angus, growing both prepack and seed potatoes as well as combinable crops. On the livestock front he has free range layers. Also on Farm they have renewable energy interests. Matthew is involved with both the NFUS’ poultry committee and potato committee, as well as being a board member at Ringlink, a cooperative based in NE Scotland.
Tom Stevenson
GA Stevenson
Tom Stevenson
GA Stevenson
Tom, a University of Reading agriculture graduate, joined Andersons Farm Business Consultants before returning to his family’s Essex farming business in 2006. In 2019, he became Managing Director of G A Stevenson Ltd, overseeing potato growing and contract farming. The company farms cereals on 1400Ha and grows potatoes on 160Ha for the packing market. G A Stevenson Ltd is known for supplying King Edward potatoes to key customers late in their procurement programs, with cold storage lasting over twelve months post-harvest.
Mark Taylor
GB Potatoes Chair
Mark Taylor
GB Potatoes Chair
Mark is a director with his wife Jo in Agrimark Consulting limited based in South Lincs. Previous to Agrimark Mark was a director at Fenmarc Produce Ltd supplying fresh potatoes and root veg for 28 years. Additionally, Mark is Chair of Nene Potatoes Ltd, Chair of the Fresh Potato Suppliers Association, NED Caledonia Potatoes Ltd, Board member with British Growers and general consultancy in both the potato and horticultural sectors.
Mark Wilcox
Branston Ltd
Mark Wilcox
Branston Ltd
Mark has 30 years’ experience in leading improvements to quality and cost in the fresh produce and automotive sectors, including establishing new divisions and leading major change initiatives at Branston. Today he is responsible for Varieties, Seed, Agronomy as well as leading the drive towards Net Zero carbon plan. He also has a particular passion for field productivity and low carbon innovation. Alongside his role at Branston, Mark is a director of APS Biocontrol Ltd, an innovative biocontrol business producing chemical-free products against pest and diseases for potatoes and other crops.
James Young
McCain Foods
James Young
McCain Foods
James assumed the role of Vice President, Agriculture for McCain Foods’ GB business in September 2021. He oversees the sourcing of over 650,000t of potatoes annually from trusted UK growers and suppliers, with relationships dating back to McCain’s establishment in the UK in 1969. The Agriculture function includes a seed operation in Montrose and the initial stages of potato processing in McCain’s plants. With 25 years of experience in agriculture and procurement at Birds Eye and its parent companies, James focuses on sustainable grower relations and supplying high-quality vegetables for freezing.