Clive Beddall retires as editor of The Grocer next week, having reached the William Reed retirement age of 60. He will be succeeded by Julian Hunt, 34, currently editor designate, who joined the magazine five years ago from The Grocer's sister title, Off Licence News. However, Beddall, who joined William Reed 38 years ago as northern news editor, will in August, take up a new role with the group as editor- at-large. William Reed group managing director Charles Reed said on Thursday: "I am pleased that we have been able to retain Clive's services in a broader development post. "This is a corporate, strategic role across our entire group, including our expanding exhibitions division, which will enable us to draw on Clive's 38-years experience of the food and drink sector at home and abroad. He will also be a regular contributor to several of our titles including, of course, The Grocer." Beddall said: "I am handing the reins to a remarkably talented young journalist. The Grocer has made major strides in recent years to become Britain's biggest and best B2B, and I am sure Julian and the team will take it to even greater heights. "For my part, I am looking forward to the new challenge and especially pleased to be retaining my links with the global food industry where I have made so many friends." A fellow of IGD, Beddall, who is a member of the new steering group of the Food Chain Centre recommended by the Curry Commission on the Future of Farming and Food, joined The Grocer from the Lancashire Evening Post in 1964. A regular broadcaster on food industry affairs, he recently received the Britvic/PPA special achievement award for outstanding contribution to business journalism. He was also editor when The Grocer won the PPA's Business and Professional Magazine of the Year title in 1998. An outspoken commentator on industry issues, during nearly four decades with the group he has become one of the business press's most travelled journalists having represented The Grocer on every continent. Meanwhile, as part of the ongoing succession process, the editorial team has been further strengthened recently by the appointment of Siân Harrington, 34, as deputy editor. A former deputy editor of Retail Week, she was also the launch editor of In-store Marketing magazine and was group editor of Centaur publishing's newsletters division. {{NEWS }}