I should be on a beach,” Barney Mauleverer laughs, roasting in his home office during May’s sweltering heatwave. And after selling his Fuel10K brand for £34m to Premier Foods in 2023, he would have been forgiven for jacking it all in.

But Mauleverer’s energy and passion for the industry remains undimmed. Hence stepping back into the fray in January to take over the largely dormant Food & Drink Exporters Association, with a bold plan to boost the UK’s food and drink exports by £10bn to £35bn by 2035.

So what’s inspired Mauleverer to come out of semi-retirement? And what’s the plan?