Food Group in chairman hunt

Patrick Farnsworth, a veteran of the food business, will leave the board of the Regional Food Group for Yorkshire and Humber when a replacement is found.

The RFG was set up seven years ago, on the foundations of an old North Yorkshire Council venture called Yorkshire Pantry. Its last grant from the regional development agency, 4m for four years, will run out in 2013.

By then, the organisation is supposed to be earning enough from membership fees, marketing services, training and research, to pay its own way.

Mr Farnsworth said it was "on target to do that", having improved the self-generated share of its running costs from 10 per cent in 2005 to 50 per cent now. He joined in 2005, after long service as joint managing director of the Hull-based William Jackson Group, which ran supermarkets until it sold them to Sainsburys and still produces Aunt Bessie's Yorkshire puddings and other national products.

Soon after his arrival at the RFG, Jonathan Knight took over as chief executive and has been the public face of the group ever since. But Mr Farnsworth has been influential behind the scenes. Membership of the RFG has grown from a few dozen to more than 600 and it employs 26.

Mr Farnsworth predicted: "Consumer awareness about the benefits of regionally produced food will continue to grow. Certainly they are much more receptive to the 'Buy Local' proposition than they were five years ago.

"It is gratifying to leave an organisation that is in great shape and that has achieved measurable results."

Mr Farnsworth, 62, has continuing interests in the food business, including directorships of the Beef Improvement Group – developers of the Stabiliser breed of cattle – and Cranswick of Hull, a major processor of pork. He lives near Driffield, where he grew up.

More than 30 candidates have applied for the post; shortlisting has taken place and interviews will be held throughout June.