The Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association welcome first woman elected to Board Of Directors

The Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association are pleased to welcome the first woman elected to their Board of Directors.

Mash Direct co-director Tracy Hamilton was invited to join the NIFDA Board, which provides services to enhance, promote, inform, educate and develop member businesses within the food and drink industry.

Northern Ireland Food & Drink Association Chairman Richard Moore welcoming Tracy Hamilton of Mash Direct to the Board of Directors

NIFDA Chairman Richard Moore announced Tracy's appointment to the Board this week. He said: "On behalf of the Board of Directors, I am delighted to welcome Tracy to the board. "Tracy has a tremendous amount of skill, experience and energy to bring to NIFDA. She will bring a new dynamic to our thinking. "NIFDA is changing and the introduction of new directors is simply the first evidence of our determination to change". Tracy has over 20 years experience in the industry and is eager to provide her input as a NIFDA Board member.

She said: "I am very honoured to be invited to join such an association. "Mash Direct joined NIFDA shortly after inception and we found the services and the prestigious Food & Drink Awards to be very helpful in growing our business. "I am now delighted to be able to put some of this contribution back. "I want to help raise the profile of NIFDA to the smaller companies in the food and drink industry. I feel at present it is so important to use the collective strength of all those involved in the food industry to promote the exceptional quality of our local produce".

Michael Bell, Executive Director of NIFDA, hopes the success of Mash Direct will inspire other members. He said: "Tracy jointly runs one of the most dynamic food businesses in Northern Ireland at the minute. "Mash Direct is a multi award-winning business which has shown spectacular growth and achieved UK-wide sales in an incredibly short time frame. "It's a great example of what can be done with a team approach. "Many members will be inspired and envious of Mash Direct's success and I think it is very important that NIFDA represents all its members both large firms and smaller companies".

Michael was also happy to welcome a woman onto to the Board. He added: "Indeed it is also very good that NIFDA now has its first female director in the history of the association. "I think the food industry is a male dominated world and it is changing slowly. I think it reflects society as a whole. "There are relatively few senior females in either the public or private sector in Northern Ireland and that I hope in due course will change".