CFA has said a fond farewell to Sustainability Consultant Dr Gus Atri.
Gus’s connection on to CFA dates to the late 1990s (whilst at Northern Foods). He chaired the Government’s Food Industry Sustainability Strategy Waste Champions Group from 2006-7, and in 2011 he joined the CFA secretariat as a consultant to lead on the Associati on’s sustainability work. Under his guidance CFA provided input into a range of initiatives including WRAP’s Courtauld
Commitment, through which industry made a food waste reduction commitment. 
As Karin Goodburn explains, he supported CFA to become a trailblazer in many other areas: “Gus’s knowledge, coupled with an extensive network of contacts, were invaluable when we worked with the Government on the Climate Change Levy Agreement. We were also one of the first trade
associations to collect members’ food waste data, and Gus worked with me to set up our Sustainable Development Working Group. This developed and monitored a range of objectives including waste, energy and CFA’s position on achieving net zero status. “Gus will be massively missed but he leaves a huge legacy for us to continue to build upon.”
Reflecting on his time with CFA, Gus (above, front right) said: “I’ve had many significant moments but what I shall cherish most is meeti ng wonderful peoplthat have helped to progress CFA’s sustainability agenda.”
Gus played a key role in CFA’s redistribution work. Here (front right) paying a visit to Company Shop in 2015.
Saying hello
Karen Birch has joined CFA as Technical Services Manager. She is the main point of contact for Members with database software questions, managing access to CFA’s microbiological databases, setting up SUSSLE training and much more.
Karen says: “I like being busy and CFA certainly is fulfilling in that area! I’m enjoying everything. I’m a very organised and structured person so working for an organisation that is forward planning really plays to my strengths. I’m enjoying the more detailed processes that are time critical and quality checking the information and data we receive. For example, setting up the SUSSLE training and marking the exams at the end, sending out E. coli data collection sheets to the members monthly and collating the results. Communicating with the members, ensuring they have what they need to provide the data to support what we do, is also very rewarding.”
Feeling Proud
CFA is proud to report that its first woman chair, Technical Director at 2 Sisters Food Group, Helen Sisson was named by Food Manufacture in its 2025 leaders list. The list, released on International Women’s Day 2025, recognised 22 influential females in food and drink. Visit the Food Manufacture website to read more.