Pyne brings a wealth of knowledge and experience, following a 20+ year career in the breakfast cereal industry at Nestlé Cereals (Cereal Partners Worldwide) in numerous communication roles in the UK and internationally.
This has given him a deep understanding of reputation issues, the health and nutrition arena and government policy, as well as European Public Affairs.
Before joining the FOB, Pyne was actively involved in the breakfast cereal category’s UK and EU trade associations as chair of Communications. He is also well known in Food & Drink Federation (FDF) circles, having completed a variety of assignments over an 18-month period from 2020, including Corporate Affairs and Associations Management.
Feeding the nation
“I am delighted to be joining the Federation of Bakers to support the plant bread bakery industry, who are critical to feeding the nation,” said Pyne.
The FOB is the trade association representing the largest baking companies in the £4bn UK bakery sector, which employs around 75,000 people and supplies over 80% of the nation’s bread. The members operate 25 bakeries nationwide manufacturing mainly sliced and wrapped bread and include Delifrance UK, Fine Lady Bakeries, Geary’s Bakeries, Roberts Bakery (part of the Frank Roberts & Sons), Jackson’s Bakery, Kerry Ingredients & Flavours, Warburtons and WD Irwin & Sons.
“It has an outstanding reputation and resilience, having faced recent Covid challenges, and now issues of rising energy and wheat prices from the Ukraine conflict," said Pyne.
“My predecessor, Gordon Polson, has created a strong Federation, and goes into retirement after seventeen years, leaving large footprints.
“I now look forward to working with Mike Roberts and the FOB Board and supporting them to help make an environment in which the FOB and its members can continue to flourish and grow.”
The value of bread
Added Polson, “I have been with FOB since 2005 and I have enjoyed every day. It’s been an odd couple of years to finish on. Any one of Brexit, Covid or Ukraine would have been enough – three in a row is unprecedented.
“The message of the value of bread as part of a healthy balanced diet must go on and I have no doubt that it will do, with the appointment of my successor Andrew Pyne.”