Haskins set for double retirement

CONTROVERSIAL food mogul Lord Haskins is retiring as chairman of Northern Foods and Express Dairies to concentrate on Government work. The Blairite peer has become one of the most influential figures in the shaping of rural affairs but has been criticised for having a conflict of interest between his public sector and private sector roles.

He said that it had always been his intention to vacate both chairs before reaching the age of 65 next year. He will be replaced at Northern Foods by former Nestle UK chairman and chief executive Peter Blackburn and at Express Dairies by Sir David Naish, a non-executive director of the company since 1998.

Northern Foods, which supplies Marks & Spencer and other major supermarkets, reported a near-9% fall in first-half profits. But it said it had pushed through price rises in the second quarter.

Underlying pre-tax profits were £38.4m in the six months to 30 September against £42m a year earlier. Sales rose from £657.3m to £698.2m. The interim dividend rises from 2.9p a share to 3.05p.

Haskins quits to stride a rural path