Leading UK Food Executives depart for Kilimanjaro challenge in aid of Farm Africa

Leading UK Food Executives depart for Kilimanjaro challenge in aid of Farm Africa

Ten leading executives from the UK’s food sector have set off from London to climb Mt Kilimanjaro, in aid of Farm Africa.

Kilimanjaro is the world’s tallest freestanding mountain. It soars 19,341 feet above sea level and getting to the top is the equivalent of scaling Big Ben 61 times. Climbing Africa’s tallest mountain is a daunting undertaking, even for the team of top-ranking executives who are more than used to a challenge.

The team flew to Nairobi on 22 September and begin their climb of Kilimanjaro on Saturday 24 September. They aim to reach the summit on Friday 30 September.

Before leaving the UK, team members have been training furiously in preparation for the climb. Andrew Cracknell, Director of Anglo Beef Processors, has even fitted in climbs in the Alps and a walk up Mt Snowdon around his regular mile-long swims.

Each team member is strongly motivated by the opportunity of raising funds to support Farm Africa’s work in supporting vulnerable rural communities in eastern Africa both to grow enough food to eat and to become the entrepreneurs of the future.

The team has already raised a staggering £218,000 so far thanks to a large number of individual donations, as well as a significant number of corporate contributions.

Before setting off, the team gathered in central London so that figures from the food sector could wish the team well at a pre-expedition dinner. The dinner was put on by leading chef Jason Atherton at his Mayfair restaurant, Pollen Street Social and was hosted by the well-known actor and global traveller, Michael Palin who is also Patron of Farm Africa. During the dinner, Michael treated the climbers to a steady stream of amusing anecdotes and stories from his extensive travels in Africa and through the Himalayas.

The team members are:

Mark Carr, Group Chief Executive, AB Sugar
Mike Coupe, Group Commercial Director, J Sainsbury’s
Nigel Dunlop, CEO Moy Park and NED Warburtons
Iain Ferguson, NED Greggs plc, Balfour Beatty plc, Berendsen plc and former CEO Tate and Lyle
Andrew Cracknell, Director Anglo Beef Processors
Richard Macdonald, NED Moy Park, Dairy Crest Foods and former Director General NFU
Martyn Wilks, Executive Managing Director Dairy Crest Foods
Charles Reed, Group Managing Director, William Reed Business Media
Tim Smith, Chief Executive Food Standards Agency
Julian Marks, Managing Director, Barfoots of Botley Ltd

You can sponsor the team, and follow its progress on the mountain via the team blog.