Leading food marketing professor visits Harper

Posted 17 November 2010

A leading food marketing professor has visited Harper Adams University College to give a compelling talk to staff and students about The Global Food Industry Developments.

Professor David Hughes, Emeritus Professor of Food Marketing at the Imperial College London, travels all over the world speaking to a range of organisations and groups, from Governments to students.

He visited the West Midlands Regional Food Academy at Harper Adams in Shropshire to deliver his presentation – ‘Future Market Directions for Agriculture, Food and Fibre Industry’.

Professor Hughes discussed which retailers and brands were making profit on a global scale and looked at the reasons for that.

He also looked at past crises in agriculture and the food industry and asked the audience what they thought the future held for the sector, while discussing a variety of scenarios.
He said: “I talk at dozens of conferences and if there is one thing that tends to come out, it’s increasing volatility in raw material supply.”

Speaking about population growth he added: “I think we have the technology to improve distribution and cope.”

Professor Hughes discussed food security over the next 20 years and how the Government may have to change their strategy.

He also looked at the fact that food and food producers, such as farmer’s and fisherman were becoming fashionable and said that retailers needed to connect with the consumers.

Principal of Harper Adams, Dr David Llewellyn, thanked Professor Hughes for taking the time to talk to staff and students.

He said: “David has fantastic information gathered from global speaking.”