Food industry leaders in Queen’s Birthday Honours
Thomas Gilpin, md of family vegetable growing, packing and processing business Gilfesh Produce received an MBE for services to the agriculture industry in Northern Ireland.
Gilpin told FoodManufacture.co.uk he had accepted the award on behalf of his family, company workers and growers. “This award is not just for me but for the 150 workers of Gilfresh Produce, my family and the 20 growers we work with in Northern Ireland.”
Vegetable seasons
After 46 years work in the food industry, Gilpin said he was surprised to receive the award. Asked why he received it, he highlighted the success the company had achieved in working with growers both in North Ireland and Eire to extend vegetable seasons.
“We have managed to extend the supply of savoy and green cabbages to 52 weeks a year, throughout the whole of Ireland,” he said.
Gilpin started large-scale vegetable production in the 1980s growing cabbages, carrots and swedes for the local wholesale market. During the late ’80s and early ’90s the firm invested in packaging and processing facilities.
Other honours:
Commanders of the Order of the British Empire (CBE)
- Professor Gaskell, principal of the Royal Agricultural College, Cirencester, for services to veterinary medicine and agriculture.
- Mary Berry, cookery writer and broadcaster, for services to the culinary arts.
- John Bishop, for services to agriculture and to the community in Berkshire.
Dames Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE)
- Lucy Neville-Rolfe, deputy chair, British Retail Consortium and executive director, corporate and legal affairs, Tesco, for services to industry and voluntary service.
Officers of the British Empire (OBE)
- Nancy Robinson, for services to consumers, food safety and public health.
- David Lawrence, principal and chief executive of Easton College, Norfolk, for services to land-based further and higher education.
- Tony Redsell, Kent farmer, for services to the UK hop industry.
- Philip Papard, HM principal inspector of health and safety, Health and Safety Executive.
Members of the Order of the British Empire (MBE)
- Patricia Forman, chief executive, Food Northwest, for services to the food and drink industry.
- Anthony Lowe, founder Fareshare, for services to the relief of food poverty.
- John Alfred Best, chairman of the Ulster Farmers’ Union seeds and cereals committee, for services to the agri-food industry in Northern Ireland.
- Rosemary Osborne, for services to the foodservice industry.
- Anne-Marie Nash, for services to farming.’
- Digby Scott, publisher of Pig World magazine, for services to pig industry.
To read Mintel’s 40-year survey of changing food and drink trends, conducted to mark the Queen’s Jubiliee celebrations, click here.
