British Sugar has announced that internal candidate Peter Watson will be its new Agriculture Director, replacing Colm McKay who will retire at the end of 2019.

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The group is the sole processor of the UK’s sugar beet crop, supplying 50% of the nation’s sugar, with four plants at Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, Newark in Nottinghamshire, and Wissington and Cantley in Norfolk.

“I’m looking forward to getting started in my new role, working with our 3,000 growers, hauliers and industry partners to continue to drive innovation and progression in our home-grown sugar industry,” said  Mr Watson. 

He has had a broad spectrum of experiences from a range of roles across British Sugar and its sister companies, and will replace Mr McKay who spent 35 years at the company.