Vote of no confidence in Red Tractor leadership dropped

A pending vote of no confidence in Red Tractor’s leadership has been dropped, following evidence of a “fresh approach” to management style.

The vote was due to take place during the Beef & Lamb sector board meeting in July, but National Sheep Association (NSA) representative Bryan Griffiths, who had requested it, has now withdrawn his call.

He made the decision after seeing the meeting’s agenda, which included a “workshop-style discussion” on what the future of assurance might look like, accompanied by “very honest” briefing notes that recognised the need to do things differently.

See also: Red Tractor develops new entry-level grain standard

“My personal view is by mid-2025, we should have a new-look Red Tractor scheme to announce,” Mr Griffiths said – though he warned success may be dependent upon the appointment of a new chair who moved away from the “supermarket first” approach of their predecessors. 

“The purpose of the vote of no confidence was to bring about change of management style. I felt in view of the new-look agenda and approach to the meetings, the situation was diffused and I was prepared to withdraw and try to move forward constructively.

He added: “I appreciate I was responsible for breaking a lot of eggs. I would now like to make an omelette.”

The NSA is currently in talks with other key trade bodies about what a relaunched Red Tractor scheme might look like.

Mr Griffiths accepted there was a need to retain key assurance “categories” such as housing, health and welfare and transport, but suggested changing the way they are audited and monitored.

In health and welfare, for example, he proposed the idea of using Defra’s Animal Health and Welfare Pathway to get “reverse-earned recognition” with Red Tractor – removing the need for prescriptive standards in the scheme.

The plan is similar to one already put forward by the Association of Independent Meat Suppliers.

Red Tractor’s new interim chairman Alistair Mackintosh © Red Tractor

Reform plans

Mr Griffiths’ comments come as new interim Red Tractor chairman Alistair Mackintosh set out the assurance body’s plans for reform.

In the August edition of the assurance body’s Member Matters newsletter, Mr Mackintosh said the board had been “struck” by how open the sector boards had been to “deep-seated, longer term change” and that this would provide a solid base to develop a five- to 10-year strategy.

He also outlined plans to increase transparency around why different standards are included; strip out all unnecessary or duplicated standards and audit points; significantly improve farmer and assessor experience of the portal; use data and technology to move away from traditional assessments; and reduce visit frequency where there is evidence of good compliance.