Ladies in Pigs fear for future as exiting chairwoman admits it may fold

Sue Woodall, its chair for the past decade (pictured, middle), is standing down in March
Sue Woodall, its chair for the past decade (pictured, middle), is standing down in March

A pork promotional group which seeks to empower women in the industry and champion the consumption of pork has admitted it fears for its future due to a lack of engagement.

Launched in 1991, Ladies in Pigs supports the pig industry by working to increase the awareness of Red Tractor pork. They are sponsored mainly from AHDB Pork and allied industry companies.

It has an established Central Office with a working Executive and members throughout the country. Whilst the majority of its members are actively involved in pig farming in some way, membership is open to anyone with a passion for pork.

But the organisation today has around 250 members nationwide, and currently faces multiple challenges.

Sue Woodall, its chair for the past decade, is standing down in March 2018. The organisation is now seeking to hire someone who could potentially bring in a new set of skills to embrace modern technology and social media.

The National Pig Association said Ms Woodall's departure leaves "very big boots to fill", and longstanding member Jane Drewe said finding a new chairman to replace Ms Woodall would not be straightforward.

“We have to think of every single scenario if we don’t find a suitable candidate. Sue is a very difficult act to follow,” she said.

The lease on the group's mobile kitchen is due to run out at the end of next year, presenting possible additional extra costs of it is to be replaced. It also faces the ongoing challenge of convincing AHDB it represents value for money for levy payers.

AHDB chairman Mike Sheldon said Ladies in Pigs had always made a good case in the past about representing value for money for levy payers. But he said, like all potential recipients of levy funds, it was competing against lots of other ‘very worthy causes'.

The group is also looking for new members. Jane Drewe said: “We are pretty much at the top of our game at the moment but we have had very frank discussion about the possibility of finishing. Of our 250 members, 42 worked this year and, of those, nearly half are over 60. We need the manpower. We are at a crossroads.”