Christine Tacon is leaving her role as chair of Red Tractor in order to avoid ‘negative publicity’, having been appointed to the board of the Co-op.
Mrs Tacon was appointed as Red Tractor chair in January 2021 and has recently had to steer the organisation through the furore surrounding the introduction of the Green Farms Commitment and subsequent reviews of Red Tractor and farm assurance more widely.
Mrs Tacon, the former Groceries Code Adjudicator, headed the Co-op’s farming operations between 2000 and 2012, and has now been appointed to its Board in its latest elections, in a vote by Co-op members. She said the role was a ‘very significant one’, given her previous connection to the business.
“However, this has created a dilemma with the other role to which I am deeply dedicated – that of Red Tractor Chair,” she said.
Mrs Tacon made it a clear in a statement that she would have liked to have remained as Red Tractor chair, but that it was ‘mutually agreed’ with Red Tractor’s Ownership Body that she would need to step down from the role, if she was to join the Co-op board. She said did not want to ‘give oxygen to those intent on criticising Red Tractor’.
“Fulfilling these two roles in parallel, each of which requires 30-40 days per year, would ordinarily raise no concerns – indeed, Red Tractor Chairs almost always hold other positions in the food industry simultaneously,” Mrs Tacon said. “However, I am acutely aware of those with reservations about supermarket power in general, and a lack of trust in Red Tractor from some quarters that needs to be repaired.
“Aware of these concerns, I raised my possible appointment proactively with Red Tractor’s Ownership Body and we mutually agreed it would be better for me to step down from Red Tractor if I got the Co-op role.
“I would like to make it very clear that this is not a move I welcome in any way. I would have far preferred to carry on supporting Red Tractor at such a critical point. I am also confident I could have executed both roles without compromising either organisation.
“However, I do not want to risk giving oxygen to those intent on criticising Red Tractor or for this to be the cause of any negative publicity.”
She has offered to stay on at the Ownership Body’s discretion until a new or interim chair is appointed. She thanked the ‘excellent team at Red Tractor for their hard work and dedication’.
“To conclude, I have worked in the UK food and farming sector for over 30 years. Despite current bumps in the road, Red Tractor is a unique and valuable asset to us all, from farm to fork,” she said.
“There are issues that need addressing, and believe me, this is happening. But it is incumbent on us all to see the enormous opportunities and value presented by Red Tractor and work together to ensure it is there for us all, for the future.”