A heartwarming image, The Elderly Having Delicious Food, by Chinese photographer Xiaoling Li, is the Overall Winner of the World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Tenderstem®, the world’s greatest celebration of food photography.

The image, which had first won the Food for the Family supported by The Felix Project category, was taken in Shuangliu Ancient Town in the Sichuan Province of China. “The elderly ladies in the picture are ‘setting up a Dragon Gate formation’,” says Xiaoling Li. “This is an expression used in China to refer to neighbourhood friends coming together to chat, gossip and share stories. They eat the famous Sichuan snack 'Spring rolls’. Food makes these people happy; they enjoy a beautiful and joyful life.”

Chinese photographer Xiaoling Li has been crowned Overall Winner of the World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Tenderstem® and awarded the prize of £5,000 (GBP) for a heartwarming image of elderly neighbours gathering to share stories over Sichuan spring rolls.

“What a perfect winning image for our times,” says Caroline Kenyon, Founder, World Food Photography Awards sponsored by Tenderstem®. “This beautifully framed shot captures five elderly women in Sichuan Province, revelling in good food with true friends. The joy they have in each other’s company is palpable, a powerful rebuke to those who would divide us. Colour, composition, the variety of expressions while one determinedly ploughs on with their food - I defy anyone not to be uplifted by this photograph."

The winners of the competition’s 25 categories were revealed by renowned chef, restaurateur and food writer Yotam Ottolenghi at the Mall Galleries, London on Tuesday 20 May at an awards evening gathering stars of the food and arts worlds.

British photographer Susan Lang won the Food in the Field category with her capture of a litter of free range Large Black piglets, Britain’s only all black pig.

British photographer Susan Lang won the Food in the Field category with her capture of a litter of free range Large Black piglets, Britain’s only all black pig.

 “These Awards showcase the power of photography in telling incredible food stories from around the world,” says Dave Samuels, Brand Director, Tenderstem® Bimi® Broccolini and headline sponsor of the Awards. “No matter how the world changes, food remains at the heart of our lives. These extraordinary images serve as a reminder of the fundamental role food plays across communities; bringing people together through growing, cooking, eating, celebrating and surviving.”

This year’s global judging panel, tasked with assessing nearly 10,000 entries submitted from 70 countries around the world, was chaired by legendary food photographer, David Loftus, and included:

• Claire Reichenbach, CEO, The James Beard Foundation,
• Tom Athron, CEO, Fortnum & Mason
• Max La Manna, Award Winning Digital Creator
• Rein Skullerud, Senior Photographer & Photo Editor, United Nations World Food Programme
• Mogau Seshoene, Chef and Author.

A free-to-enter exhibition of all 185 Finalist images premieres at The Mall Galleries, London, running from 21st - 25th May. A selection of images will also be exhibited at Fortnum and Mason from 2nd June, as well as the Museum of the Home from 3rd June - 7th September.

To see the online gallery of all the 2025 finalists, visit worldfoodphotographyawards.com.

Entries for the 2026 edition of the competition will open later this year in September.

Lizzie Mayson won the Claire Aho Award for Women Photographers with her capture of a 'pasta granny' looking upon the fruits of her labour before delivering it to her local church in Lazio to be cooked to feed the homeless.