FEDIMA has named Wouter Lox as Secretary General, effective September 2024. The appointment brings more than three decades of food industry experience to the Brussels-based federation, which represents manufacturers and suppliers of bakery, confectionery and patisserie ingredients across 13 European countries.

Lox arrives from AIJN, the European fruit juice association, where he led development of the sector's sustainability roadmap. His CV includes the managing director position at EuSalt and senior policy roles at Yakult Europe and NuSkin Enterprise. He has also held governance positions at Food Manufacture Technology Europe (FMTE) and served as interim head of FEDIAF, the pet food industry federation.

FEDIMA President Thomas Lesaffre said Lox's understanding of EU food policy would strengthen the federation's representation of an industry employing nearly 27,000 people across Europe, with combined annual turnover of approximately €6.7 billion.

Technical Background

Lox holds a master's degree in bioengineering from Ghent University and a postgraduate qualification in packaging management from Vrije Universiteit Brussel. He has developed educational courses covering functional foods, packaging legislation and HACCP, and has lectured on public affairs at Copenhagen University. His professional career began in Gabon, working in education and agricultural development.

The new Secretary General will maintain his position at CEIR (Taps and Valves Europe) alongside the FEDIMA role, as well as several senior advisory positions.

Lox said he would focus on promoting innovation, sustainability and food safety across the bakery ingredients sector, working with member companies to ensure continued industry recognition at EU level.

FEDIMA is composed of national associations representing ingredient manufacturers and suppliers to the bakery, confectionery and patisserie industries.

Further information is available at www.fedima.org.