Members of the BFFF Young Leaders Forum, accompanied by Rupert Ashby, Kathryn Tindall, Neesha Ramsingh-Cleary and Denise Rion from BFFF, were invited to visit Darégal Gourmet in Milly-la-Forêt, France, on 5 and 6 August 2025.

Darégal Gourmet is the world’s number one producer of frozen culinary herbs, with four factories, employing 500 employees, supplying three markets; food industry, food service and retail.

Martin McIlroy, managing director of Darégal, hosted the 2-day visit, ably assisted by members of the Darégal UK and France teams, including Stuart Mills and Kirsty Bell.

Seven young leaders made the trip and were treated to a packed itinerary which included a factory tour, presentations, a wonderful dinner and hotel stay, fresh v frozen tasting quiz and a field trip to see parsley being harvested.

On the second day, there was a working group, brain-storming ideas on how to promote frozen food more widely using social media platforms. Ideas generated will lead to a dedicated campaign.

Thank you to everyone who participated in this visit. It was incredibly interesting and insightful and, in addition, provided the perfect environment for group members to have professional conversations and make new contacts.

Being part of the YLF is a brilliant opportunity to connect across the frozen food sector, working together and learning from other young leaders in a wide range of sectors & positions. Being part of the YLF since the very beginning has been a rewarding experience. Gaining exposure to the different categories in the frozen food sector with each visit providing insights and building a greater understanding of the wider industry.

Over the course of the visits, I’ve seen first-hand the passion businesses have for quality frozen produce, innovation and driving added value. From our visit to Whitby seafood and the Aldi head office to our most recent trip to Darégal, each one has offered a unique perspective on how businesses across the sector are leading with purpose. Darégal  in particular stood out as a perfect example of a leading frozen business, showcasing a proactive people first approach and an impressive integrated supply chain following a field to plate approach. The state-of-the-art manufacturing facility balanced automation with a strong commitment to quality, while the investment in nursery plant genetics highlighted the long-term thinking being applied to secure the next generation of growth.

Lewis Wantling. Chair of BFFF Young Leaders Forum.

If you are interested in joining the Young Leaders Forum, or would like to offer the Young Leaders Forum the opportunity to visit your site, please contact Kathryn Tindall: kathryntindall@bfff.co.uk