Travelling the world as an IT geek Tom Martin only ever dreamt of indulging his passion running his own food business.
Now the ex ICL; Fujitsu and NCR manager is not just running a food business but he has been elected President of the Confederation of Yorkshire Butchers Councils. And he is planning to use the skills he used in his previous career to promote their work.
Tom, who bought Eric Richmond Pies in Ossett three years ago with his wife, Anne-Marie, shaped his own love of food travelling the world developing, designing, installing and training companies in new IT systems that have helped change the way we all live.
Tom was instrumental in building the first online bank for First Direct and for a time worked at ICL before it became Fujitsu in Wakefield. But he turned his back on that three years ago to buy Eric Richmond and use his business skills growing a heritage brand.
Since then he has increased turnover in each financial year and was himself the winner of the Yorkshire Pork Pie competition in 2015, the first time the company entered.
Looking to develop both his own brand and the reputation of Yorkshire pork pies, Tom has set himself the goal of raising the profile of the product and the quality as well as the professionalism of the Federation.
“Artisan manufacturers such as Eric Richmond are very protective of our product and traditional methods,” he said. “We take our role in promoting their taste, quality and food provenance very seriously. During my year I want to make more consumers, potential retailers and other manufacturers aware of this fact to raise the profile of the Federation and Yorkshire Pork Pies.”
During his year in office Tom has set himself the target of developing a better web presence for the Federation, promoting membership and raising money for a Yorkshire charity.
