GroceryAid, the charity for the grocery industry, has announced that its director general, Gillian Barker, is to retire later this year.

In the 14 years Barker has been with GroceryAid the charity has grown its turnover from £1.4m to £4.5m, with the number of beneficiaries increasing from 1,100 to more than 10,000.

“It is not without sadness that the time has come for me to say goodbye,” she said. 

“It has been so rewarding to work within this great industry on increasing the awareness of the charity and promoting the work that GroceryAid does. Every working day at GroceryAid has been a pleasure, thanks to the support of my great colleagues and Trustees.”

Barker has spent her entire career in the industry, from working as a Saturday girl in a local convenience store to her time at Sainsbury’s and then at Safeway before joining the charity.

“I have thoroughly enjoyed all my years working in the grocery trade. All that has been achieved here at GroceryAid would not have been possible without the support of all those individuals who make this such a fantastic industry,” she added.