Professional Role and Responsibilities
Joe Hind holds the position of Head of Programmes and Policy at Scotland Food & Drink, an industry leadership body dedicated to the promotion and development of Scotland’s food and drink sector. He has over 20 years of dedicated experience driving positive change across community, economic, environmental, and health domains within the sector.
In his capacity, Joe functions as the central point of contact for all policy-related communications at Scotland Food & Drink. He is directly responsible for informing members about relevant policy developments, including Scottish Government initiatives, and he manages the delivery of Scotland's national food and drink strategy. His role integrates programme governance and policy management to support sustainable growth and enhanced competitiveness for Scotland’s food and drink industry.
Joe can be reached via email at joe@foodanddrink.scot for direct industry engagement and policy inquiries.
Key Contributions and Initiatives
Joe Hind is notably involved in high-level strategic initiatives shaping Scotland’s food and drink industry’s future, with particular emphasis on:
- Sustainability and Net Zero Roadmap: He plays an active role in Scotland Food & Drink’s efforts to advance environmental sustainability within the supply chain, including reducing emissions in catering and other sub-sectors.
- Levers for Growth & Sustainability: Recently, Joe has spearheaded the launch of a policy prospectus titled Levers for Growth & Sustainability, which outlines strategic priorities for maintaining the industry’s viability, profitability, and sustainable expansion.
- Healthier Product Development Funding: As Head of Programmes & Policy, Joe announced the provision of funding to 14 iconic Scottish food and drink businesses focused on reformulating recipes to enhance health profiles, demonstrating his involvement in initiatives that also align with public health objectives.
- Collaboration with Scottish Government and Stakeholders: Joe regularly organizes and hosts policy dialogues involving government bodies, research institutions such as SRUC, and industry representatives, facilitating multi-stakeholder engagement to address pressing sector challenges.
Industry and Market Context
Scotland Food & Drink, under Joe Hind’s policy leadership, supports an industry that:
- Encompasses 17,000 businesses with a combined turnover recently reaching a record £19 billion.
- Contributes approximately £7 billion in Gross Value Added (GVA), positioning it as Scotland’s third-largest sector by economic value.
- Supports around 47,000 direct jobs within food and drink manufacturing.
- Focuses intensively on both economic recovery and sustainable growth, in line with Scotland’s broader national food and drink policy objectives extending to 2025 and beyond.
Joe’s role is central in aligning programmes with these strategic economic targets while emphasizing the industry’s environmental responsibility and community welfare.
Public Engagement and Thought Leadership
Joe Hind is also recognized for his communication efforts beyond policy engagement. He authors a recurring series titled "Joe Hind's Scottish Food Year", a month-by-month celebration highlighting Scottish food culture, agricultural products, and seasonal industry insights. This work reflects his deep sectoral knowledge and his association with organizations such as the Soil Association Scotland.
He frequently appears in media and industry press releases advocating for bold action to secure the sector's future, reflecting his position as a thought leader within Scotland’s food and drink landscape.
Summary of Relevant Contact and Professional Data
- Name: Joe Hind
- Position: Head of Programmes and Policy
- Organization: Scotland Food & Drink
- Contact: joe@foodanddrink.scot
- Experience: 20+ years in food and drink policy, business development, and programme leadership
- Key areas: National food and drink strategy delivery, sustainability initiatives, healthier product funding, multi-stakeholder policy engagement
- Recent initiatives:
- Launch of Levers for Growth & Sustainability policy prospectus (Sep 2025)
- Announced funding for recipe reformulation to improve healthiness in iconic Scottish food and drink businesses (Oct 2025)
- Industry impact: Oversees programming for a sector with a record turnover of £19 billion and major employment footprint
- Additional roles: Policy management, member communication, industry advocacy
This profile reflects Joe Hind’s strategic positioning within Scotland Food & Drink as a pivotal leader responsible for policy formulation, programme oversight, and industry advocacy aimed at fostering sustainable economic growth and innovation in Scotland’s food and drink sector.
