Tesco has appointed Tom Hind as its new agriculture director. He joins the retailer after more than 15 years in various roles with the NFU, most recently as corporate affairs director.
Mr Hind will join Tesco later this year in a role designed to develop the supermarket’s relationship with farmers and producers across the UK and around the world. The appointment follows a commitment made by Tesco CEO Philip Clarke at the NFU Annual Conference earlier this year to build stronger relationships with farmers and help build a more transparent supply chain.
Mr Hind will oversee Tesco’s new agriculture team, which consists of experts for each area of farming including proteins, fishing and horticulture, and will also develop Tesco’s sustainable farming groups. The groups will cover the whole of the agriculture sector, following Tesco’s industry leading work in establishing groups for dairy and beef farmers.
He will also act as the main point of contact between Tesco’s commercial teams and farmers across the UK, develop innovative ways of working with farmers and contribute to building sustainable farms for the future.
Another of Mr Hind’s responsibilities will be for Tesco’s work in animal welfare, where the retailer already has schemes for each species, and minimising waste in the farming supply chain.
“The NFU is a fantastic organisation and I have enjoyed my 15 years here covering a range of issues and roles,” Mr Hind said. “Throughout my career I have been motivated by trying to make a difference on behalf of farmers and growers. I’m looking forward to working with the Tesco team and its suppliers to develop even closer working relationships between farmers, manufacturers and the retailer.”