Mike Peters Elected New President of UK Flour Millers

Mike Peters has been officially elected as the new President of UK Flour Millers, the trade association representing the flour milling industry in the United Kingdom and Ireland. The announcement was made during the association’s Annual General Meeting, held on Thursday, June 5, as part of their biennial Convention in Belfast.

Peters succeeds Gary Sharkey, Procurement Director at Hovis, who served as President for the past two years. With over 45 years of experience in the milling industry, Mike Peters brings a wealth of expertise and dedication to his new leadership role. Having served as Vice President of the association for the past year, he steps into the presidency with a deep understanding of the sector’s challenges and opportunities.

Mike Peters has held senior roles with key industry players such as Allied Mills Limited and ADM Milling. Since 2004, he has been part of Whitworth Bros Ltd, where he served as Managing Director from 2016 until late 2024. He currently acts as Milling Group Advisor at the company.

“Milling has been a constant in my life for more than four decades,” Peters said upon his election. “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.”

He also highlighted a key priority for his presidency: investing in future talent. “I’ll 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.”

UK Flour Millers, formerly known as the National Association of British & Irish Millers, represents 32 member organisations operating 51 flour mills across the UK and Ireland. The flour milling industry is a vital part of the UK’s food supply chain. It contributes more than £700 million in value added to the economy each year, generates £2 billion in annual turnover, and provides £270 million in direct and indirect tax revenues. The sector’s productivity is also remarkable, with a gross value added (GVA) per employee of £141,000—more than twice the UK economy’s average of £64,000.

As the newly elected President, Mike Peters is set to guide the association through a time of change and opportunity, strengthening its influence and ensuring a sustainable future for the flour milling sector.