Friday 31 May 2024

Statement from Red Tractor Ownership Body members:

About the Red Tractor Ownership Body:

Red Tractor is a not for profit company limited by guarantee (£1) and its owners are known as the Ownership Body (or “the Owners”). They represent the entire supply chain that Red Tractor provides assurance for. There are six owners – Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB), The National Farmers Union (NFU), NFU Scotland, The Ulster Farmers Union (UFU), Dairy UK, the British Retail Consortium (BRC). There is also one observer, the Food and Drink Federation, which sits as an observer at the meetings, bringing the insights from the branded food manufacturers.

The Ownership Body provides the guarantee, appoints the Chair and Directors and, where necessary, the Owners can amend the Company’s Articles of Association. It meets twice a year and delegates all responsibility for the management of Red Tractor to the Board of Directors, who may exercise all the powers of the Company.

Saturday 18th May 2024

Message from Christine Tacon:

I am very pleased to have been appointed to the Co-op Board in their latest elections, voted in by Co-opmembers. Having headed the Co-op’s farming operations between 2000 and 2012, the role is a very significant one for me.

However, this has created a dilemma with the other role to which I am deeply dedicated – that of Red Tractor Chair. Fulfilling these two roles in parallel, each of which requires 30-40 days per year, would ordinarily raise no concerns – indeed, Red Tractor Chairs almost always hold other positions in the food industry simultaneously. However, I am acutely aware of those with reservations about supermarket power in general, and a lack of trust in Red Tractor from some quarters that needs to be repaired.

Aware of these concerns, I raised my possible appointment proactively with Red Tractor’s Ownership Body and we mutually agreed it would be better for me to step down from Red Tractor if I got the Co-op role.

I would like to make it very clear that this is not a move I welcome in any way. I would have far preferred to carry on supporting Red Tractor at such a critical point. I am also confident I could have executed both roles without compromising either organisation. However, I do not want to risk giving oxygen to those intent on criticising Red Tractor or for this to be the cause of any negative publicity.

I have offered to the Ownership Body that I stay on at their discretion until a new or interim chair is appointed – this is an important time for Red Tractor as it works to improve transparency and audit efficiency, and better demonstrate value. I would also like to thank the excellent team at Red Tractor for their hard work and dedication. Expect an update from the Ownership Body in due course.

To conclude, I have worked in the UK food and farming sector for over 30 years. Despite current bumps in the road, Red Tractor is a unique and valuable asset to us all, from farm to fork. There are issues that need addressing, and believe me, this is happening. But it is incumbent on us all to see the enormous opportunities and value presented by Red Tractor and work together to ensure it is there for us all, for the future.

Tuesday 14th May 2024

Following the latest round of sector board meetings, each sector board Chair has now provided an update. This includes the Beef and Lamb sector board Chair John Dracup who has clarified the situation following his meeting. I have also spoken to the National Sheep Association about their concerns.

Red Tractor must now be given a chance to get on with all the changes that are already in motion and need implementing – some of which also address a key concern of the NSA’s. There are processes in place for good reason, and efforts to circumnavigate these will not move the situation forward; in fact, they risk damaging confidence everywhere. Now, more than ever, we need to work together, constructively, to see UK farming through its current challenging times.

Farm assurance can only seek to create paths to markets between producers and supply chains; it cannot solve chronic power imbalances or guarantee price premiums. Nonetheless, there remains almost universal agreement between farmer representatives and supply chains that farm assurance plays a critical role. What we must do is demonstrate the value of that role.

To this end, the team remain fully focused on improving the farm-side operations of Red Tractor to achieve the value, transparency and audit efficiency that farmers want to see.