Tacon’s tenure saw fresh produce management training provider treble trainee numbers and double company membership
Farmers Guardian – 7th March 2025
To mark IWD 2025 (March 7), we speak to Christine Tacon, who has sat on various boards such as Red Tractor, about her defining moments and advice for other women in agriculture
Christine Tacon is a well-known figure in the farming world, and although she is not directly from a farming background, she has worked her way up through various businesses and has had a seat at the table on various boards.…
Farmers Guardian – 4th July 2024
After stepping down from her role as chair as Red Tractor, as the new interim chair Alistair Mackintosh begins his role, Christine Tacon reflects on her time at the top – the highs and the lows. …
The Grocer – 21st May 2024
Red Tractor chair Christine Tacon is to step down from her role at the farm assurance scheme following her election last weekend to the Co-op board.
Former Groceries Code Adjudicator Tacon was appointed to the Red Tractor board in December 2020.…
I am delighted to have been elected as a Member Nominated Director for the Co-op at their AGM held on 18th May 2024. If you are interested you can see my candidate address, 500-word statement and 2-minute video used for my application here.…
Progress on a Canadian grocery code of conduct has stalled as two major retailers refuse to sign it, claiming it will raise prices.
The code is intended to set rules for fair dealing in negotiations between retailers and suppliers, helping level the playing field in the grocery industry.
…The NFU have today published Campbell Tickell’s independent review of Red Tractor Governance.
Red Tractor Chair, Christine Tacon commented:
“The review reports that ‘Red Tractor governance is sound’ and Campbell Tickell have found ‘no procedural breach’.
The Times – 2nd July 2023
Our supermarkets seem short of friends — at least within the Palace of Westminster. Rishi Sunak has said that the cost of the weekly shop “has gone up too much in the past few months … we’re looking at the supermarkets, making sure that they’re behaving responsibly and fairly when it comes to pricing”.…
I am standing as a Member Nominated Director for the Co-op at their AGM held on Saturday 20th May 2023. I have been asked to produce a brief candidate address, a 500-word statement and a 2-minute video. These can be view below.…
Farmers Weekly– 25th April 2023
Supermarkets and supply chain unfairness were top of the agenda at the third Farmers Weekly Question time event at the John Innes Centre in Norwich.
Farmers shaped the discussion by putting their searching questions to a panel of policymakers and influential figures, including Christine Tacon, chairwoman of Assured Food Standards for Red Tractor.…
The Grocer – 19th July 2022
Critics say the GCA has over-stepped its remit and made itself vulnerable, but supporters warn handing its job to the CMA would be disastrous
Small business minister Jane Hunt had been in the job for just two weeks when The Grocer revealed she was to consider scrapping the Groceries Code Adjudicator role in a drive to increase efficiency and ministerial accountability.
The Grocer – 20th July 2022
Consumers are losing trust in supermarket food as they assume swapping to cheaper ranges means compromising on quality and food safety, new research suggests.
A YouGov survey of 3,500 UK adults commissioned by Red Tractor found 46% were changing what they bought to keep their families fed during the cost of living crisis.…
I am standing as a Member Nominated Director for the Co-op at their AGM held on Saturday 21st May 2022. I have been asked to produce a brief candidate address, a 500-word statement and a 2-minute video. These can be view below, as well as on the Co-op website.…
The Grocer – 21st February 2022
Food sector learning provider MDS has received a £450,000 grant to create a training programme for non-graduates and triple the number of its secondments in the food industry.
The campaign will focus on recruiting ex-military personnel and career changers to upskill the fresh produce sector.…
The Press and Journal – 11th February 2022
Sustainability will become an increasingly important component of farm assurance going forward, claim the leaders of three industry assurance bodies.
Speaking at the NFU Scotland virtual annual general meeting and conference, the chairs of Quality Meat Scotland (QMS), Red Tractor and Scottish Quality Crops (SQC) said farm produce buyers were increasingly asking for assurances about the sustainability of food produced on British farms.…
Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) – 27th January 2022
The Canadian Agri-Food Policy Institute (CAPI) announces the release of its latest Perspective Report, delivering critical insights on supply-chain efficiencies and competitiveness from UK Groceries Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon.
A healthy supply chain, where food can flow efficiently from farmers and processors, through retailers to consumers, is critical for Canada and Canadians,” says Tyler McCann, Managing Director of CAPI.…
Guest Speaker Jan England of England Marketing
“Women in Food and Farming” is a group of professional women in food, agriculture, and the land-based industries at all stages of their careers, who get together to discuss business issues, support each other via mentorship and advice, and help generate networks of contacts that might be useful to themselves and their businesses.…
Guest Speaker Judith Batchelar OBE. Special Advisor CR&S and Public Affairs Sainsbury’s.
“Women in Food and Farming” is a group of professional women in food, agriculture, and the land-based industries at all stages of their careers, who get together to discuss business issues, support each other via mentorship and advice, and help generate networks of contacts that might be useful to themselves and their businesses.…
What Have We Learned In Our Ways Of Working From The COVID Pandemic…?
A quick insight from some of the Group Founders as to what they have found and differing ways of working from over the last 18mths.
“Women in Food and Farming” is a group of professional women in food, agriculture, and the land-based industries at all stages of their careers, who get together to discuss business issues, support each other via mentorship and advice, and help generate networks of contacts that might be useful to themselves and their businesses.…
Just Food – 28th May 2021
Canada’s largest retail trade body has joined calls for a grocery code of conduct – although its demands have sparked concerns at one leading manufacturers’ association.
The Retail Council of Canada, which represents Canada’s largest food retailers, yesterday (27 May) announced it wants a “food industry code of practice” and unveiled a new “alliance” of supplier and retail organisations that would look to devise the new system.…
Eastern Daily Press – 9th April 2021
The Norfolk-born businesswoman who now leads the nation’s largest farm assurance scheme will discuss the future challenges facing the food industry during an online event.
Christine Tacon, newly-appointed chairman of the Red Tractor farm and food assurance scheme, will speak at an online event on Tuesday, part of series of lectures and debates to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Royal Agricultural University (RAU).…
Views on the Biggest Challenges Facing Agriculture in the next 10 years
“Women in Food and Farming” is a group of professional women in food, agriculture, and the land-based industries at all stages of their careers, who get together to discuss business issues, support each other via mentorship and advice, and help generate networks of contacts that might be useful to themselves and their businesses.…
The Grocer – 10th March 2021
Aldi is to fund 60 management apprenticeships in the fresh produce industry over two years to help nurture talent in the sector.
The move is in partnership with fresh produce management training scheme MDS, chaired by former GCA Christine Tacon.…
Fresh Produce Journal – 26th January 2021
Agrifood graduate training organisation MDS has reported “unprecedented” demand from graduates as well as new member companies over the past 12 months. …
The Grocer – 21st December 2020
Former Groceries Code Adjudicator Christine Tacon has been appointed chair of the Red Tractor Assurance scheme.
Tacon, who stood down from her GCA role in October after more than seven years at the helm, replaces Lucy Neville-Rolfe, whose three-year term ended in November.…
Farming Today – 18th December 2020
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Farmers Weekly – 18th December 2020
Former groceries code adjudicator Christine Tacon has been appointed as the new head of Red Tractor.
Ms Tacon has been named as the chairman of Assured Food Standards (ASF), the company that operates the Red Tractor Assurance scheme. …
Christine Tacon CBE has been appointed Chair of Assured Food Standards who operate the Red Tractor Assurance scheme.
The former Groceries Code Adjudicator takes up the role on the 1st January 2021, replacing Dame Lucy Neville-Rolfe, whose term ended last month.…
Simply Supply Chain Blog – 27th October 2020
Despite the considerable impacts on the grocery supply chain this year, the Drop and Drive Claims Workgroup has continued to make great progress during 2020 and we were able to celebrate some incredible results at the final review of the year last week.…
