Our People
Alex Stewart Food Test Lab

Graham Stewart BA Hons, Dip mgt

Managing Director

Graham has been involved in many areas of the business for more than 25 years. He has diverse experience in the inspection and laboratory business, including overseeing Food Test Lab, Alex Stewart Agriculture, A Norman Tate and Huson and Hardwick. Graham has travelled and worked extensively in South America and led our diversification into the food business sectors in Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Peru and Uruguay. More recently, Graham oversaw the building of Food Test Lab in Aintree, near Liverpool in the UK.

Desmond McMillan MSc, GRSC, BSc

Chief Chemist

Des started his career in 1985, working as a junior laboratory assistant at Bootle Analytical Labs. He moved to Central Edible Oils in 1988 as an oil quality control analyst, before joining the Environmental Inspectorate in 1991. He moved to Alex Stewart in 1994 as an analytical chemist and became Chief Chemist at Alex Stewart Agriculture in 2004. Des played a key role in integrating the A Norman Tate and Huson and Hardwick laboratories into the Alex Stewart Group. More recently, Des helped to design Food Test Lab. He has been the Chief Chemist at Alex Stewart International’s HQ laboratories since 2007 and the company quality manager. In 2011, Des successfully led the laboratory to UKAS ISO 17025 accreditation.

Glenn Forbes

Inspections Director

Glenn has 30 years of  industry experience, having joined Alex Stewart International in 1997. He started out as an inspector for dry and oil cargoes in the food and feed sector, before becoming a business executive. Glenn has been heavily involved in training and operational programmes for clients, and he has spent considerable time in Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, India, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Malaysia, North America, Philippines, Russia, Scandinavia, South Africa, Spain, Turkey and Ukraine, training and developing staff in all aspects of food testing and soft commodity inspections. Glenn is fully qualified in draft surveys, seed sampling and pest detection. He regularly participates in GAFTA, FOSFA and IFIA committees, while lecturing on their international training courses.

Jennifer Thomas

Group Microbiologist

Jennifer’s career began in 2002, after she graduated from the University of Central Lancashire with a degree in microbiology. She worked in the pharmaceutical industry for three years before joining CP Kelco, a fermentation plant that pioneered the production of Xanthan gum. Jennifer joined Food Test Lab in 2008 as food microbiology manager, responsible for overseeing all aspects of the microbiology laboratory and establishing an ISO 17025-compliant laboratory management system.

Cameron Finlay

Laboratory Manager

Cameron graduated in 2017 with a degree in biomedical science. He started his career working within the environmental chemistry industry for Chemtech as a laboratory technician, soon becoming an inorganic chemist. He joined Alex Stewart Agriculture in 2018 as an analytical chemist, gaining valuable experience in organic and inorganic chemistry working to ISO 17015, GAFTA and FOSFA standards. Cameron became chemistry laboratory and technical manager in 2021, and his presence helps to maintain and develop a high functioning quality environment.

For more information about our world-class food testing services or a no-obligation quote please email us.

Food Test Lab is the trading name for the UKAS-accredited company Huson and Hardwick, which is part of the Alex Stewart Agriculture Group.