A team of 13 senior executives from the UK food industry has completed a gruelling 150 kilometre charity trek through one of Africa’s harshest and most untamed landscapes - the Great Rift Valley in the Tanzania Highlands.

The trekkers arrived exhausted but elated on the shores of Tanzania’s Lake Natron at around 14.10 local time on Saturday 5 October. It was the sixth day of a physically punishing trek that required the team to walk in blistering heat across low arid woodlands, soda lakes and grass plains as well as climbing up high mountains to volcanic craters.

Much of the trek took place at over 2,500 metres above sea level with team members each climbing over 4,500 metres in total over six arduous days. The team followed a route specially designed for them and which previously had only been walked by local Masai tribesmen and wildlife.

Fundraising adds to £428,000 raised by food and hospitality industries for Farm Africa

All the money raised by the trekkers has contributed to a hugely impressive total of £428,000 raised this year for Farm Africa by Food for Good, an initiative set up by the UK’s food and hospitality sectors to help tackle one of the world’s most pressing challenges: hunger.

Reflecting on the team’s achievement, former NFU Director-General and Farm Africa Chairman Richard Macdonald said: “Physically it's probably the toughest thing I've ever done, including Kilimanjaro.  Food for Good has raised an amazing £428,000. We have all worked incredibly hard to merit the support of all our sponsors! A huge thank you to everyone who has supported us. The money donated will make a real and long term difference to many people in eastern Africa.”

The Tanzania Highland Challenge team:

Tony Baines, Managing Director Buying, Aldi
Richard Brasher, Chief Executive Officer, Pick ‘n’ Pay
Andrew Cracknell, Commercial Director, Anglo Beef Processors
Nigel Dunlop, Chief Executive Officer, Moy Park
Steve Ellwood, Non-Executive Director, AH Worth, EFFP
Robert Lasseter, Chairman, NFU South West Regional Board
Richard Macdonald, Non-Executive Director, Moy Park, Dairy Crest
Julian Marks, Managing Director, Barfoots
Steve McLean, Head of Agriculture & Fisheries, Marks and Spencer
Keith Packer, Chief Executive Officer, Typhoo Tea
Charles Reed, Group Managing Director, William Reed Business Media
Andrew Thompson, Commercial Director, Booker
Mark Williamson, Commercial Director, Waitrose

Other Food for Good fundraising challenges in 2013 include: the Dig for Good project in May, where 14 senior women executives from the UK's food industry dug a huge fish pond in Kenya; the Chef’s Kilimanjaro Climb in August, which saw a team of four leading chefs and restaurateurs ascend to the highest point in Africa; a Summer Ball held by Barfoots of Botley and a whole range of fundraising activities carried out by field marketing agency, Cosine UK.