In this video interview, Jones set out the key elements of the plan. Speaking at the Grosvenor House Hotel in Central London, as tables were being prepared for the PTF annual dinner last week, Jones said the organisation planned to: create a new dedicated home for cheese, renovate its bacon market report and improve information on technical, legislative and political developments to members.
‘Clerkenwell Green’s best kept secret’
Describing the federation as “Clerkenwell Green’s best kept secret”, Jones said he planned to boost its profile with government officials, stakeholders, the media and the wider food industry. “We should clearly communicate what provisions trading is about; the value we deliver and the great things our members do in keeping the [supermarket] shelves full and the lights on in many British factories.”
Jones said the success of the three-year plan would be judged by the organisation’s growing membership and income together with favourable responses to stakeholder perception surveys.
Speaking at the dinner, PTF chairman Andy Smith told guests he and colleagues had prepared: “A vision for a powerful, expertly staffed and growing representative organisation, recognised by regulators, politicians, media, pressure groups and industry as the authoritative voice of the provisions trade.”
‘The authoritative voice’
The organisation will facilitate better business and provide information to give members a market advantage, he claimed.
PTF recipe for growth
- Renovate bacon market report
- Improve dairy statistics
- Enlarge bacon and pigmeat section
- More end users in dairy section
- Dedicated section for cheese
“A renewed PTF will support you, will sweep away the barriers to trade and facilitate better business,” said Smith. “But, in return, you need to support the organisation. That’s vital if we are to present a powerful, united and authorative voice to our important stakeholders.”
Meanwhile, Jones replaced Clare Cheney at the helm of the organisation in September 2014. Cheney was a long-time columnist for our sister publication Food Manufacture. Read her last column on remedies to the UK's obesity crisis published in September 2014 here.