FDF Scotland has announced new leadership appointments. James Macsween, Managing Director at Macsween of Edinburgh, has been named Chair, succeeding Jim Fox of Coca-Cola Europacific Partners. Katherine Durie, European Legal Counsel at Baxters Food Group, has been appointed Vice Chair.
In his role as Chair, Macsween has outlined priorities for supporting the growth of Scotland’s food and drink manufacturing industry.
This comes at a time when the sector faces challenges, particularly due to changes in Minimum Wage and National Insurance costs, which are impacting businesses’ ability to invest and expand.FDF Scotland has put forward several proposals for the Scottish Government:
- Develop consistent food and drink regulations across UK nations to minimise costs and complexity for businesses and consumers.
- Establish a dedicated fund for decarbonisation innovation in the food and drink industry.
- Develop and implement a national food and drink net zero transition plan.
- Improve the packaging recycling and reprocessing system.
- Address industry skills needs by implementing actions from the Independent Review of the Skills Delivery Landscape.
- Collaborate with Westminster on the Growth and Skills Levy to enable manufacturers to invest in productivity-enhancing training.
- Continue support for FDF Scotland’s Reformulation for Health Programme.
- Enhance support for food safety, particularly in assisting Food Standards Scotland’s efforts to redesign the food law delivery and assurance framework.
These proposals aim to address current challenges and support the continued development of Scotland’s food and drink manufacturing sector.

James Macsween, FDF Scotland’s Chair, said: “I am honoured to lead FDF Scotland at such a pivotal time for our industry. My focus will be on driving sustainable growth and ensuring that our members have the support they need to thrive.
“Together, we can build a stronger, more resilient sector that continues to deliver high-quality food and drink that people enjoy at home and across the world.”

Katherine Durie, FDF Scotland’s Vice Chair, added: “I am delighted to take on the role of Vice Chair and work alongside James to support the growth and success of Scotland’s food and drink industry.”
David Thomson, FDF Scotland’s Chief Executive Officer, commented: “Our members across Scotland are part of the fabric of local communities and have been for generations, providing jobs, investment and of course great food and drink to feed our families.
“However, these businesses are also facing several challenges, which we believe could be mitigated by minimising the cost and complexity of regulations, de-risking innovation around de-carbonisation, and ensuring food and drink manufacturers have the skills that they need.
“We are committed to working closely with the Scottish Government and other stakeholders to create an environment where our businesses can flourish. I would like to thank James and Katherine for taking on their new roles as Chair and Vice Chair. Their leadership will be instrumental in guiding our industry towards a prosperous future.”