The first chief executive of Red Tractor Assurance, David Clarke, is to retire after 19 years spent building the scheme from scratch.

East Anglian Daily Times: Jim Moseley, who is to be the new chief executive of Red Tractor Assurance. Picture: Tim Scrivener/www.agriphoto.comJim Moseley, who is to be the new chief executive of Red Tractor Assurance. Picture: Tim Scrivener/www.agriphoto.com (Image: ©Tim Scrivener)

The Red Tractor logo was launched in 2000 to reassure consumers over the safety of British food, following two years of planning in response to a series of food scares during the 1990s. Under the scheme, producers undergo regular independent checks as to how food is being farmed and prepared.

Today, the scheme has more than 60,000 farm businesses in membership, making it the UK’s – and possibly the world’s – leading farm assurance scheme and a key selling point for British primary products.

Mr Clarke said: “In Red Tractor, the UK farming industry has an assurance scheme that it can be really proud of. “Major food and drink businesses use it as an intrinsic part of their sourcing policies and it is viewed positively by consumers who say it influences their shopping decisions.

“More than £14bn of food carried the Red Tractor logo on it last year. Government agencies also recognise the quality of the scheme, meaning Red Tractor farmers get fewer regulatory inspections.”

He added: “Establishing such a robust scheme which has to constantly evolve has not been without its challenges but I am leaving the organisation in great shape for the future.”

Mr Clarke will be succeeded by Jim Moseley, currently the assurance scheme’s chairman, who has also presided over both the Food & Drink Federation and the Provision Trade Federation.

He brings with him a wealth of food industry experience from a career which has spanned FMC (Meat) Ltd, Tulip, General Mills and, most recently, Mizkan.

Mr Moseley said: “I am delighted to be leading Red Tractor on the next phase of its development.

“David Clarke has done an outstanding job establishing and developing a comprehensive and robust assurance scheme which has been adopted and supported by the whole food chain.

“Looking to the future and particularly the uncertainties around Brexit, we must protect and promote British agriculture by ensuring consumers and buyers understand and value the exceptionally high standards which our farmers and growers deliver.”