Duckers & Diving: Rider saddles up to save the meat industry
THE woes surrounding our beleaguered meat industry occupy the thoughts of our peddler of pedigree prose this week.
Could Birmingham businessman John Rider be the saviour of our once-great meat industry. His experience – and new role – suggest he may be the man to get saddled-up, ready to ride the rescue.
Except it might have to wait until 2014 when in Chinese circles it is the Year of the Horse.
In the wake of the horsemeat scandal the West Midlands chairman of the Institute of Directors found himself being teased about the name association at the recent successful launch of the England China Business Forum.
Not an issue that is likely to bother the Chinese as they seem to have rather more exotic tastes than us.
But John ‘How’s-Me-Old-China’ Rider has revealed another worrying link to the scandal.
Thirty years ago, when he was just a sprog starting out on his business career, he secured a marketing post with frozen food firm Findus.
Not a seat many would care to be in today given that Findus is one of the most prominent firms implicated in the affair – its beef lasagne was found to contain up to 100% horsemeat.
Yummee … I always wondered what had happened to Shergar.
Mind you, our man wants to clarify one thing.
“My role involved fish – not horses.”
Er, so that’s alright then!
