Around 450 people representing suppliers from across Europe, including brands such as Unilever and Cargill, attended the conference and Karl was one of only seven people who received an award.

The People Award celebrates exceptional performance in a personal role and an outstanding achievement in helping others develop and grow; supporting diversity of thought and making an exceptional contribution to the McDonald’s Supply Chain values.

Through FAI, Karl has been working closely with McDonald’s for eight years, managing the ‘Flagship Farms’ programme in Europe. The initiative takes into account the half a million farms that provide raw materials to McDonald’s and highlights sustainability best practices through the identification of progressive farmers.

The award was presented by McDonald’s Senior Supply Chain Director, Keith Kenny who explained some of the reasons Karl was chosen.

He said: “Karl has played an instrumental role in the delivery and evolution of some of our most iconic programmes.

“Over the years, he has played a critical role in determining the direction of our key agriculture programmes, such as the McDonald’s Agricultural Assurance Programme and Flagship Farms - bringing his practical farming experience and deep sustainability knowledge to bear, helping to ensure these programmes bring value to both our business and those of our farmers.”

Karl Williams (centre) receives the McDonald’s European Supply Chain People Award