Potato chief who learnt for legends given top award

Nick Vermont, was presented with the 2015 British Potato Industry Award by AHDB Potatoes in recognition of his outstanding contribution to the industry over the last 30 years and more at BP2015, the potato industry event in Harrogate.

Fiona Fell, chairman of AHDB Potatoes, said: “Nick has given a huge amount of time and energy to drive value from the potato levy for the industry as a board and committee member.

“Involved since the inception of the Potato Marketing Board through British Potato Council days, and on to the newly-formed AHDB Potatoes, Nick’s experience, attention to detail and marketing expertise have proved invaluable to our industry over many years.”

Mr Vermont joined Scarborough’s McCain Foods in 1983 and held positions of increasing responsibility in the marketing departments of the company’s GB and Canadian businesses.

In 1991, he was promoted from marketing manager of McCain Foods to managing director of PAS (Grantham) Ltd; McCain’s subsidiary business responsible for UK retailer own label potato products. In 1998, he became managing director of McCain Foods GB, taking on his current role in 2004.

Mr Vermont said: “I had the great privilege of working with Harrison and Wallace McCain (who opened McCain’s first British factory) and in particular, Mac McCarthy, the founder of McCain Foods GB.

“At a young age, I learnt about the inter-relationship between a thriving potato industry and McCain’s success from these industry legends.”