The Who's Who in Meat 2017 list is now out, revealing the top 20 influencers in the meat industry.
The exclusive Meat Trades Journal line-up, in no particular order, is based on nominations put forward by a variety of industry contacts.
Ranjit Singh Boparan, chief executive of 2 Sisters Food Group, Danny Lidgate, managing director of C Lidgate butcher's and Laura Saunders, fresh meat buying director at Aldi, are among those named.
Boparan set up 2 Sisters Food Group in the early 1990s. In the past 12 months alone the company has acquired Giraffe Restaurants, Bernard Matthews and Ed's Easy Diner, together with a stake in the Crawshaw Group retail butchery chain.
Lidgate is part of the fifth generation to run London-based butcher C Lidgate, which clinched a deal a year ago to supply meat for delivery to shoppers through Amazon Fresh.
Meanwhile, Saunders, who changed her name recently to Whiting after getting married, joined Aldi in 2009 and worked her way up from area manager to her present position.
The group is composed of leading lights from top supermarkets, independent retailers, farmers, processors and foodservice.