John Sedgwick, UK potato supply manager at Lamb Weston in Wisbech, England, has assumed the helm as the new board chairman of the UK Potato Processors Association (PPA). His career has been grower-focused and agronomy-centered across a wide range of vegetable as well as frozen and dehydrated potato products.
In succeeding Dan Hewitt, formerly of Valeo Snackfoods, Sedgwick stated: “It is a privilege for me to take on the role of chair for the PPA. The sector has seen many challenges emerge in recent years, and I hope to be able to continue to help drive the association, and the sector as a whole, toward its full potential.”
PPA Director General Andrew Curtis commented: “I am delighted to welcome John aboard. He is widely known and respected within the United Kingdom potato sector and I look forward to the energy and experience that he will undoubtedly bring to the role. Growers and processors in the UK have faced many challenges over the past few years. These include storage, agricultural water shortages, and flooding, access to land, seeds and to labor, increased costs, as well as access to actives and fertilizers. These challenges aren’t going away and it’s good to know that John is keen to help represent the sector and to raise the profile of the Association.”
Membership of the UK Potato Processors’ Association consists of British manufacturers of frozen chips and potato products, potato crisps, potato-based snack products and dehydrated potato. PPA incorporates both the Frozen and Chilled Potato Processors’ Association (FCPPA) and the Snack, Nut and Crisp Manufacturers’ Association (SNACMA).
Collectively PPA members are the largest customer for UK potatoes, purchasing around 1.47 million tons annuallyi, accounting for circa 94% of all potatoes processed into frozen chips and other value added frozen potato products, potato crisps and snacks within the Britain.
Over 13,000 people are directly employed in the UK by the potato processing sector, and other dependent jobs, including those in the farming sector, more than double this total.
The value of the UK processed and prepared potatoes market was estimated at more than £2.7 billion (not including foodservice), and the sliced potato crisps market was reportedly worth an additional £1.47 billion in 2022. Furthermore, the value of the entire savouy snacks sector (which in addition to potato crisps includes cereal, nut, popcorn and meat-based snacks) was estimated to have a combined retail value of £4.05 billion last year.
