John Sedgwick, UK Potato Supply Manager at Lamb Weston in Wisbech, has been formally appointed as the new Board Chair of the UK Potato Processors’ Association (PPA).

John has a career that has been grower focused and agronomy centred across a wide range of fresh vegetables, as well as frozen and dehydrated potato products.

John succeeds Dan Hewitt (formerly of Valeo Snackfoods) in the role of PPA Board Chair, with a wish to raise the profile of the association, and to show the many benefits that membership brings to the potato industry at a time of considerable challenges.

Sedgwick said: “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’s Director General Andrew Curtis said: “I am delighted to welcome John to the role of Chair. John is widely known and respected within the UK 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 on storage, agricultural water shortages and flooding, access to land, seeds and to labour, increased costs, as well as access to actives and fertilisers. 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”.

Note to Editors

The UK Potato Processors’ Association (PPA) is the trade association for UK 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 tonnes annuallyi, accounting for circa 94% of all potatoes processed into frozen chips and potato products, potato crisps and snacks within the UK.

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 sector also makes a significant contribution to the country’s manufacturing base. The value of the UK processed and prepared potatoes market was estimated at more than £2.7 billion (not including food service), and the sliced potato crisps market was estimated to be worth an additional £1.47 billion in 2022iii. Furthermore, the value of the entire savoury 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 in 2023iv.

Andrew Curtis or 07939 147 088 – andrew@ppauk.org
PPA Website: https://www.ppauk.org/
SNACMA Website: https://www.snacma.org.uk/

A photo of John Sedgwick is available on request.

i Source: PPA own data, collected from members annually. Latest data May 2022. Covers period 1/06/21 -31/05/22.
ii Source: Calculation based on PPA own data (above) and Defra. Agriculture in the United Kingdom 2022. Chapter 7 Data set, which includes “Table 7.11a Potatoes; production, value, supply and use (a)” and “Table 7.11b Potatoes”.
iii Source: Kantar 52 w/e 22 January 2023.
iv Source: Nielsen 52 w/e 20 May 2023.