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Alastair Stewart
Sustainability & Food - Supply Networks - Data & Insights
Alastair Stewart is the Sustainability Data and Insights Manager at CH&CO, a contract catering company.3 He is based in the Greater Oxford Area in the UK and has experience in sustainability, food systems, and supply chain management.34
Background and Education
Alastair holds several advanced degrees:
- MSc in Supply Chain Management
- MSc in Agriculture and Development
- BA in Politics and International Relations2
Career
Prior to joining CH&CO, Alastair worked at the Fairtrade Foundation for 3.5 years.4 He recently transitioned to his current role at CH&CO in February 2024, where he focuses on helping the company understand the sustainability aspects of its contract catering services.4
Role at CH&CO
As the Sustainability Data and Insights Manager, Alastair's work likely involves:
- Analyzing sustainability data related to CH&CO's operations
- Providing insights to improve the company's environmental performance
- Supporting CH&CO's sustainability initiatives and reporting
CH&CO has demonstrated a commitment to sustainability, including efforts to reduce carbon emissions and use renewable energy in their operations.1 Alastair's role likely contributes to these ongoing sustainability efforts within the company.
Highlights
After 3.5 years at the Fairtrade Foundation, and 15 years working in the international development sector I'm starting a new role today with CH&CO's Sustainability Team.
Over the last 15 years I've been fortunate enough to work with, visit, and learn from, smallholder farmers and colleagues in Mozambique, Côte d'Ivoire, India, Ghana, Zambia, Tajikistan, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Philippines, Pakistan and Indonesia. Some of the products I've worked on include cocoa, tea, sesame, rice, shrimp, coconut sugar and soy.
The challenges facing the people that grow the food we eat are not getting any easier. Climate change, cost of living, and low prices are compounding an already difficult vocation. The role of organisations like Fairtrade and Oxfam to partner, innovate and debate with the companies that source from these smallholder farmers is so important and I'll continue to be a massive advocate for their work.
Now I'm going to be doing a bit of a shift to focus on the consumer end of the supply chain, working with the fantastic Sustainability Team at CH&CO. I'll be maintaining a focus on food systems by helping the company to understand the sustainability aspects of its contract catering services. Last year I completed a (part-time while working) MSc in supply chain management and I'm excited to put all that hard work, and the knowledge I gained, to practical use.
Finally, just to say a huge thanks to my colleagues at the Fairtrade Foundation. It was a fascinating 3.5 years working with wonderful people and I'll continue to fly the Fairtrade flag.
Two exciting consultancy opportunities with Fairtrade Foundation in 2024. Closing date is 19th January.
- Tea in Assam - an assessment partner to co-develop an assessment tool and methodology, that will be conducted annually to support effective monitoring of key challenge and risk areas.
- Cocoa in Côte d'Ivoire - a Fund Manager to manage a USD 2 million finance facility to support access to finance for cocoa farmers in Cote D’Ivoire. See this link for details and ToRs: https://lnkd.in/ennT2ciN
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