Our Structure

Led by CEO David Thomson, Food and Drink Federation (FDF) Scotland is part of the UK trade association – the FDF. FDF Scotland focuses on Scottish specific issues that are of interest to our members.

Executive Committee

There are elected officers who work together to advise and support FDF Scotland on a broad range of issues and activities, at both a strategic and tactical level.

The committee consists of the Chair, Vice-Chair and representatives from a diverse range of member companies.

Chair: Dr Gary Stephenson, Devro plc

Gary is the Chair of FDF Scotland and Director for Global External & Regulatory Affairs at Devro (Scotland), a Scottish based global food casing company exporting to over 100 countries. His background is in parasitology, toxicology, chemical regulation, hygiene and nutrition providing a scientific and technical approach to regulation. He has over 30 years' experience in food regulation, initially with Procter and Gamble on fats and oils, snacks, soft drinks, juices, coffee, nuts and cake mixes for professional and consumer markets.
Vice-Chair: Rachel Wicklow, Scobie & Junor

Scobie & Junor specialise in supplying the food industry with ingredients, packaging and machinery. Rachel launched Scobie & Junor's brand Secret Sausages, Vegetables in Disguise to trade March/April 2013, this is an example of how the company continues to innovate and diversify to develop the brand. Rachel has a marketing background, where she has held various roles for Gillette and Beam Global Spirits & Wines.
Archie Gibson, Agrico UK Ltd

Archie is the Managing Director of Agrico UK Ltd, a subsidiary of a Dutch farmers cooperative with 800 members. The company is a leading breeder and merchant of seed potatoes supplying more than 80 countries worldwide. Archie gained experience in a variety of land agent roles before joining the food industry in 1999. He represented Scottish supply chain interests in a far reaching review on food security and resilience led by the Centre for the Protection of National Infrastructure (CPNI) and British Standards Institute (BSI), resulting in the publication of PAS 96 Defending Food & Drink.
We are lucky to have two representatives from Baxters on the committee who will share the role:

Gordon McKelvie, Baxters Food Group Limited

Gordon joined Baxters Food Group in May 2016 as Group Legal Counsel although his association with the Baxters business goes back to around 2003 when he acted as external legal adviser on one of Baxters' first acquisitions. He sits on the Group Board and also the Management Boards of Baxters European, North American and Australian business units and chairs the Baxters Group Risk Committee. Prior to joining Baxters, Gordon worked as in-house legal counsel for businesses in the Scotch Whisky and Automotive sectors, and was also a partner in a private legal practice for over 10 years.
Lucy Strachan, Baxters Food Group Limited

Lucy has 13 years' experience of working as an in-house lawyer, half of those within the food industry. She is the Deputy Group Legal Counsel for Baxters Food Group and sits on the European Leadership Team. She recently qualified as a Chartered Company Secretary and acts as Company Secretary for Baxters. Lucy began her career as a Corporate Lawyer in private practice before moving in-house to become legal counsel for VION Food Group Limited prior to joining the team at Baxters.
Mark Bruce, Border Biscuits

Mark is Commercial Director at Border Biscuits, a family owned sweet biscuit manufacturer that has operated in Lanark since 1984. The Border Brand can be found in a wide range of retailers and foodservice outlets across the UK, and in international markets.

Mark has worked in the food and drink sector in Scotland since 1992 where his first role was at Walker's Crisps. Since then he has worked with a range of brands and businesses, all with a Scottish presence. His previous experience has included roles at Masterfoods, Carlsberg, Lightbody Cakes and Brakes.
Jim Fox, Coca-Cola European Partners

Jim has worked in the Coca-Cola system in Great Britain for over 25 years. He started his career at CCE managing and planning within the Supply Chain then moved to Sales and Marketing and was responsible for several of Coca-Cola's most important large national accounts. In his current role since 2005, he represents Coca-Cola European Partners in Government and Public Affairs working closely with elected representatives in Westminster, Edinburgh and Cardiff.
Tony Dumbreck, Innovate Foods

Tony is Managing Director of Innovate Foods, one of the leading players in the UK, supplying coated starters into the major Foodservice operators in UK, Germany and other European countries. Tony grew up in a three generation family mushroom growing business. He was a founding partner in Golden Crumb Produce Ltd in Feb 1989, and took over the company in 1991, which subsequently became Innovate Foods.
James Macsween, Macsween of Edinburgh

James is Managing Director of award-winning family business Macsween of Edinburgh. Macsween has expanded the market for haggis and black pudding through on-going product and management innovation. James has worked in every department from van driver to pie marker and shop assistant to haggis maker; starting fulltime in production in 1992. He is passionate about taking haggis to a new place in an environmentally and ethically sustainable manner.
Colin Herron, McCain Foods (GB) Ltd

Colin has worked in various positions at McCain Foods' potato seed business in Montrose for over 20 years. Previously he worked as a Higher Agricultural Officer at the Scottish Government.
Sean Austin, Paterson Arran Ltd

Sean is Managing Director of Paterson Arran Ltd. Paterson Arran supplies shortbread, biscuits and cookies to the retail and food service sectors from its award-winning bakery in Livingston, and chutneys, mustards, jams and fillings from its factory on the Isle of Arran. Sean has previously held senior operations, supply chain, change management and general management roles with Boots, Budelpack and Kerry Group, in the UK, Europe and North America. He has extensive experience across the pharma, cosmetics & toiletries and food sectors.
Sonja Bader, Sco-Fro Group Ltd

Sonja is Group Commercial Director at Sco-Fro Group Ltd, a private ltd company, founded in Glasgow over 40 years ago. Sco-Fro imports a wide range of ambient grocery and frozen seafood products from around the world including - China, Thailand, India, Italy and Germany and supplies major multiple retail and foodservice companies across the UK, mainly under private label. Sonja has been with the business for over 30 years and has held a number of positions across the business in that time in sales, marketing and sourcing. Prior to joining Sco-Fro Sonja spent a few years in the Scotch whisky industry.

Members' Forum

As FDF Scotland is part of FDF, it enables industry members in Scotland to have direct input into the development, formulation and promotion of industry policy both in Scotland and the UK. FDF positions are developed and agreed following industry-wide consultation. Our Scottish Members' Forum allows any member with an interest in Scotland; the opportunity to have direct input into discussions on key issues affecting the industry and receive news and updates on relevant issues and opportunities.