The Fresh Potato Suppliers Association (FPSA), established in 2009, was created to represent the fresh sector of the potato industry, bringing together fresh packers and suppliers to the retail market. Its aim was to identify key issues affecting members and provide a coordinated voice for the sector. While the processing sector has long been represented by the Potato Processors Association (PPA), the FPSA focused on addressing technical and practical challenges to support the growth of the fresh market segment.
In 2024, discussions began to integrate FPSA into GB Potatoes, a national body representing the entire potato industry across Great Britain. The integration aimed to strengthen industry representation and reduce duplication of effort. As a result, the Fresh Sector Consultation Group (FSCG) was formed in early 2025, replacing the FPSA under the GB Potatoes structure. The FSCG held its first meeting in February 2025, with participation from former FPSA members as well as other packers and suppliers active in the fresh sector.
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The FSCG has been established to provide structured input and guidance to the GB Potatoes Board on matters affecting the fresh potato supply chain. It is intended to develop proposals and initiatives to support the sector, work collaboratively with other industry partners to address shared challenges and respond to areas of market failure where a collective approach is required. In addition, the group will represent businesses involved in selling fresh potatoes across multiple channels, including retail, food service, and independent outlets such as chip shops. It will also ensure that both growing and trading perspectives are represented in discussions and decision-making processes.
Alongside the FSCG, GB Potatoes also formed a Seed Consultation Group in 2024 to address the specific needs and challenges of the seed potato sector. Both groups contribute to a broader structure aimed at improving coordination, knowledge-sharing, and problem-solving across the industry. Further initiatives are in development to expand this collaborative approach to other segments of the sector.
GB Potatoes Organisation Ltd. is a not-for-profit company limited by guarantee. It is funded by voluntary membership through annual subscriptions. The formation of these consultation groups reflects an ongoing effort to establish more structured and representative engagement across the potato supply chain and to support informed decision-making in response to industry needs.
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