Press release: Mike Peters elected UK Flour Millers' new President

MIKE PETERS ELECTED UK FLOUR MILLERS’ NEW PRESIDENT

Mike Peters elected president of UK Flour Millers trade association

Mike Peters has been elected President of UK Flour Millers, the trade association.

Mike, who has been Vice President of the association for the last year, was elected President at the UK Flour Millers’ Annual General Meeting on Thursday, 5 June, held as part of their biennial Convention in Belfast.

UK Flour Millers represents the flour milling industry in the United Kingdom and Ireland (the organisation was originally: the National Association of British & Irish Millers). It has 32 miller member organisations who operate 51 flour mills across the country.

Mike Peters has more than 45 years’ milling experience, working for businesses including Allied Mills Limited and ADM Milling. He is currently Milling Group Advisor for Whitworth Bros Ltd, a company he joined in 2004 and was Managing Director from 2016 to late 2024. He takes over from Hovis' Procurement Director, Gary Sharkey, who was UK Flour Millers’ President for the last two years.

Accepting the nomination, Mike Peters said:

“Milling has been a constant in my life for more than four decades. I’m honoured and delighted to have this opportunity to put something back into the industry, through presidency of the association.

“I look forward to working with the association team and building on their work with Gary, ensuring the contribution of this often unheralded industry to food security is properly valued. I’ll also be taking a close focus on the development of training, to ensure we support the millers of the future as they learn their skills in mills across the country.”

Flour milling is an essential sector. With a gross value added (GVA) to the economy per employee of £141,000 – more than double the £64,000 GVA for the economy overall – its productivity helps bolster the UK with £2 billion generated in annual turnover, £700 million created in value add to the economy, and £270 million delivered in tax to the exchequer (direct and indirect).

About UK Flour Millers:

UK Flour Millers is the trade body for the UK flour milling industry. The association supports members by facilitating reliable, sustainable, and affordable supplies of wheat, providing training, promoting good practices in health and safety, advocating for the industry, and shaping and supporting long-term research and development. The organisation speaks on behalf of their members to government, policy makers, the media, consumers, and other stakeholders.

Notes to readers:

The flour milling industry plays a vital role in feeding and nourishing the nation – flour is an ingredient in approximately one-third of supermarket foods, shown via Ascential data. Furthermore, 99.8% of UK households purchase bread according to Kantar worldpanel. Flour mills operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week to ensure that bakeries, food manufacturers, restaurants, and retailers have the flour they need to make food for the nation.