Cotswold Fayre has announced the appointment of Gary Jordaan as its new Operations Director, further strengthening the company’s Senior Leadership Team as it continues to invest in service excellence and future growth.

Gary is a proven transformation leader with over 20 years’ extensive supply chain and operations experience gained at significantly larger food and drink operators, bringing deep operational expertise across ambient, chilled, and frozen categories. He previously held senior roles at Euro Food Brands, a business with revenues of over £200 million, BOSH! Media, Mars and Friesland Campina, where he worked closely with third-party logistics partners support complex, multi-temperature supply chains.

Commenting on the appointment, Paul Hargreaves, CEO, said: “We are delighted to welcome Gary to Cotswold Fayre. He brings a wealth of experience from larger-scale operations, which will be invaluable as we continue to evolve our business and raise the bar on service for our customers. Gary’s background across ambient, chilled, and frozen, combined with his expertise in working with 3PL partners, will help take our operations to the next level.”

Gary Jordaan added: “I’m excited to be joining Cotswold Fayre at such an important stage in its journey. The business has a strong reputation for quality, sustainability and service, and I’m looking forward to working with the team to strengthen operational capability, support future growth, and ensure we continue to deliver an excellent experience for customers, whilst reducing our footprint on the planet.”

In his role at Cotswold Fayre Gary will focus on supporting sustainable cross-category growth, enhancing service excellence and building scalable processes to support the business’s long-term ambitions.

Mentor Training, the UK’s leading provider of material handling equipment training, is urging businesses to ensure they reduce risk in areas where workplace transport operates, and vehicles and pedestrians mix.

Where vehicles and pedestrians share the same area, there is always an inherent level of risk. Over the last ten years, HSE statistics on employees indicate that being struck by a moving vehicle accounted for 1,264 non-fatal injuries and 9 fatalities reported under RIDDOR.

Wherever possible, segregation is key, but some scenarios require further measures to ensure all parties are protected. For example, when the operator cannot safely obtain a clear view of the route ahead, risk increases dramatically, putting them and those around them in danger.

In response to challenges facing the industry, Mentor Training has developed a brand-new course which equips businesses with a valuable safety solution to assist in high-risk areas.

Workplace Transport Marshal training provides colleagues with the skills and knowledge to act as a chaperone, helping operators to ensure that equipment can be manoeuvred safely around site without causing harm to people or damage to buildings, stock or the equipment itself.

The half-day course covers all key elements, including compliance with the Health & Safety at Work etc Act 1974, clarification on where and when this method can be used and safe systems of work, alongside full practical training. The course is available on customer sites nationwide and accredited by the Association of Accredited Truck Trainers (AITT) to confirm its alignment with all relevant standards.

Mentor’s Commercial Director, Adam Smith, explains its importance, “This new course was developed to ensure both the operator and any pedestrians working around them remain safe onsite. Large loads can impair operator visibility and, where it’s not possible to drive in reverse, or environmental factors like tight corners come into play, assistance is vital.”

“In our experience of working with a wide range of companies, we understand that many working environments warrant supplementary solutions to reinforce existing segregation in shared areas. Pedestrians may underestimate the hazards, bypassing barriers or crossing the paths of vehicles they perceive to be slow-moving, and inadvertently put themselves in harm’s way. Trained marshals can ensure the operator’s route is clear, communicate with the driver and prevent them from leaning out of the confines of the vehicle for a better view.”

Adam concludes, “If you have operators and pedestrians working closely together, and you fail to mitigate the risks, you are putting your people and your business in danger. The simple addition of trained marshals to guide workplace transport in these instances can significantly reduce the risk of serious accidents and injuries, ensuring that everyone on site returns home safely at the end of the day.”

For further information on Workplace Transport Marshal training, visit Mentor’s website, or call 01246 555222 and speak with one of their expert advisors.

BFFF are proud key partners of IFE, part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week, taking place 30 March – 01 April 2026.

Exclusively available to BFFF members, the final stands in the dedicated Chilled & Frozen section are now available. Secure your space at IFE to position your brand at the heart of the industry, connect with senior decision-makers, and showcase the innovations shaping the future of chilled and frozen food.

Enquire Today

With more than two decades dedicated to the frozen food industry, Global Food Link has established itself as a global trusted partner for B2B customers seeking reliable, high quality products sourced directly from the world’s best origins.

The company’s greatest competitive advantage lies in its specialization: IQF avocado, guacamole, and avocado pulp, all produced under carefully controlled conditions at its facilities in Peru, which is the main source of avocados in the UK market. From cultivation to processing and freezing, Global Food Link ensures full traceability, consistent quality, and secure year round supply.

Global Food Link operates a dedicated logistic hub in the UK to offer complete supply chain solutions, combining products with in house logistics and UK based stock for immediate availability. Its integrated infrastructure delivers a true 360° service, from origin to delivery, ensuring reliable support for foodservice wholesalers and distributors, organized restaurant chains and retail.

” They also offers a complementary portfolio of frozen tropical fruits, berries, ethnic vegetables, mushrooms, and snacks, sourced from certified partners across Latin America, Asia, and Africa. All suppliers operate under GFSI recognized standards, and the company’s quality team oversees controls, laboratory testing, and compliance throughout the supply chain.

Global Food Link’s combination of origin control, frozen product expertise, and local UK logistics positions the company as a solid partner for businesses seeking quality, stability, and long term value. www.globalfoodlink.eu

Sysco GB, the UK’s leading foodservice supplier, has called on the Government to take greater action to address the significant employment challenges facing the wholesale sector.

Launching its Paper, A Skills Strategy for the Wholesale Sector, Katrina Simpson-Haines, Human Resources Director of Sysco GB, said: “The wholesale sector is facing unprecedented challenges. We play a vital role in supporting communities across the country, but the skills crisis means that it is becoming increasingly difficult to recruit and train the next generation of workers.

“Our Paper provides some very practical solutions that can be easily adopted to pave the way for a profitable future for the sector and those working within it.”

According to Sysco GB’s Paper, key to solving the issues facing the sector include removing barriers to engaging new talent by allowing levy funding to support onboarding, work-readiness initiatives, and the wider costs associated with bringing new entrants into the workforce – not just the qualification itself.

In addition, the report highlights the need to empower businesses to tackle critical skills gaps by enabling levy funding and short courses to support proven, business-led training programmes, such as Sysco’s award-winning ‘Changing Gears’ HGV driver programme.

The company is also lobbying for action to future-proof the workforce and drive long-term growth by unlocking funding for modular upskilling, digital and AI-focused training, and specialist and leadership development, ensuring people can progress throughout their careers.

Katrina Simpson-Haines added: “We believe the changes we are proposing will help boost productivity, strengthen social mobility, and build a more resilient workforce across the wholesale and foodservice sectors.”

Download the Paper