Gary Sharkey is the new president of the UK Flour Millers following an election at the trade association’s annual meeting in Cambridge this week. He succeeds Roger Butler, chairman of Whitworth Brothers, who led the sector for three years in a period which saw the Brexit implementation, Covid-19 and the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
Mr Sharkey, who started his career in the grain trade with BDR Agri then Grainfarmers, moved into the milling industry with Premier Foods in 2005. He is currently procurement director for Hovis and is a past president of the European Flour Millers Association.
“I am delighted to take on the role of leading an industry that plays a crucial part in the UK’s food supply,” he says. The industry that delivers this, and the chain of which it is part, is a critical part of our food infrastructure.
“I look forward to carrying on this work as we face continuing volatility on energy and commodity markets, a much higher cost base and the long-term sustainability challenge.”