BSc Agricultural Technology degree students from CAFRE’s Greenmount Campus recently participated in an innovative supply chain programme with beef and lamb processor Linden Foods and food retailer Marks & Spencer (M&S).

As part of this programme, the students visited both Linden Foods in Dungannon and the Food Hall of the Marks & Spencer store in Sprucefield Lisburn. During both visits the students toured the respective facilities and were given presentations on various aspects of the supply chain.

Following these visits the students were tasked with a project to develop a supply chain for a new food product targeting M&S customers. The programme culminated with a visit to Greenmount Campus by Linden and M&S staff who assessed the student presentations on their project.

The Supply Chain programme is sponsored by Linden Foods and Marks & Spencer as part of its Farming for the Future education programme. The reward for the winning team of students is a visit to M&S London headquarters at Waterside House, Paddington. During this visit, which will take place in June, the students will meet a range of M&S staff involved in food purchasing and new product development.

The top 3 student teams will also receive awards at Balmoral Show.

The winning student team comprised John Anderson (Pomeroy), Nicola Annett (Dundrum), Claire Beckett (Donaghcloney), and Ryan Bradley (Ballyclare).

The runner-up team was Ryan Loughran (Pomeroy), Marcus Mackle (Coalisland), Jenny Mairs (Coleraine), and Tom McClelland (Limavady).

Pictured: (L-R) Ian Wallace (Marks & Spencer, Sprucefield), Nicola Annett (Dundrum), Ryan Bradley (Ballyclare), John Anderson (Pomeroy), Claire Beckett (Donaghcloney), and Frank Foster (Linden Foods).