The initials IMTA originally stood for the Imported Meat Trade Association which was formed in 1895 as the Frozen Meat Trade Association. The name was changed to the International Meat Trade Association following the UK's accession to the EEC.

   Our earliest record is the Association's Report and Accounts for the year 1901. These indicate that there were 20 members at the time, including Weddel, Towers, Sansinena, Bergl, the New Zealand Farmers Co-operative, and the shipping line Shaw Savil and Albion.

The Accounts show the the Association's subscription income amounted to the princely sum of £105!

   Two items from the Annual Report are of interest:  it states that: "The Association appointed a special committee to draw up a form of contract which could be used universally in the transaction of C.I.F. business" (It seems that our current trading terms have quite a long history).

 The Report also states that fees for quality surveys would be £1. 1s. 0d per 1,000 carcases (mutton and lamb) and £2. 2s. 0d per 500 carcases (beef).

   In 1909, the Association changed its name to the Incorporated Society of Meat Importers, and it was not until the beginning of 1928 that the Association became known as the Imported Meat Trade Association and the term IMTA was born!                                                                       

   Thereafter, it was not until May 1982 that the name changed again to the International Meat Trade Association.  The change being necessary to indicate that its members were now trading World-wide and covered Exports as well as Imports.

   Turning back to the year 1908, a major event occurred which was to be etched into the history of the Association. This was the appointment of Gordon Campbell (later to become Sir Gordon Campbell K.B.E.) of Weddel as President of the Association.

   The autocratic Sir Gordon Campbell continued as President of the Association, without any break in his appointment, until the year 1952.

Council meetings seldom took more than half an hour and it is said that few members spoke - other than in support of the President.