Meet our Judging Panel

Lover of all things food. I am an innovations and development specialist with a chef background.

Experienced Product Developer, Food Consultant & Lecturer

Founder of Fabric-Food a New Product Development Consultancy. Delivering innovative food and drink products to market.

With over thirty years of experience in the food and drink industry, my journey to date has been diverse and incredibly inspiring.

Beginning in gastropubs and then moving on to award-winning restaurant training with the likes of Gary Rhodes and Raymond Blanc, the culinary training and knowledge I acquired was poured into new product development for retailers' own brands, stretching further into international branded propositions.

My career has taken me from the kitchen to high-profile senior management roles heading up Innovation for a multi-million-pound food and drink business shaping their innovation agenda with leading brands such as Linda McCartney Foods, New Covent Garden Soup Co, Hartley's along with working with the businesses key customers to deliver newness to the retail and food service market.

I launched Fabric-Food in 2018 combining my culinary expertise, commercial acumen, and vast industry and consumer knowledge to bring to market an end-to-end food and drink consultancy supporting food and drink businesses from start-up to established.

Founder of Scandinavian Kitchen, UK’s leading independent distributor and online food retailer of food from Scandinavia. Also proud proprietor of ScandiKitchen, London's favourite Scandinavian deli and cafe.

Specialties: business start-up, entrepreneurship, food, PR, small business operations, Scandinavia and how to keep the main thing the main thing.

Over 35 years in the food industry with the following businesses:

United Biscuits

New Covent Garden Soup Company

Princes

Merchant Gourmet

Donatantonio / Lupa Foods – CEO

Simon Bell Food Industry Consulting

Simon Bell Coaching  

Originally a pharmacist, currently working in drink development. Collaborated with leading brands in the UK.

Vegan food entrepreneur, Keynote speaker, 'Vegan Junk food god', Jack of all fruits. I previously built creative ops departments from scratch; growing start-up teams from infancy to hundreds of staff in multiple countries, overcoming all the fun in-between bits too. Now I'm building a plant based food revolution, growing out of my kitchen into street food, then into bricks and mortar, and further into foodservice and retail.

With a background in coffee, cocktails, wine and baking, Cosmo is Creative Director for the Moore House Cocktail Company, based in Notting Hill. Alongside curating the brand's core range of award-winning bottled cocktails, Cosmo works closely with long-standing hospitality icons such as Rick Stein and The Savoy Hotel on innovative co-branded projects. Outside of Moore House, Cosmo continues to judge food and drink for the Guild of Fine Food.

Ex-Chef turned Food Journalist, Creative Brand Management & PR.

Chef of 10 years. Now Editor of Consommé Magazine and Creative Content, Branding and PR Manager for well-known food personalities. Previous work includes: Metro, The Guardian, Women's Health. DOSE, H+N Magazine, Huffington Post. Your Coffee Break. HND in Hospitality and Event Management.

Experienced Chair, Non Executive Director & advisor to a number of Boards across both the private and public sectors.

I have been fortunate to work with some great people in a range of organisations and I am now equally fortunate to enjoy the variety that helping a number of businesses bring. Helping businesses grow, thrive and survive is a passion and with a breadth of experience including funding, M&A, strategy, commercial development, capital investment and operational improvements, I believe I can help, support and challenge most management teams to be the very best that they can be.

With nearly 30 years experience in the food & beverage sector, I have developed transferrable skills which offer benefits to many organisations in many sectors. My range includes non food consumables, technology, online, sports & leisure, regulatory and major building project management and I am now branching out to use those skills in publicly funded bodies too.

A strong leader who is results oriented, with a solid relationship across retailers. I am able to bring different perspectives and act strategically in a commercial environment adding value to the bottom line. Professional integrity is non-negotiable.

As director of food innovation solutions, I lead our innovation business within our group. We provide innovation & NPD support across the F&B industry, from blue chip manufactures to retailers & QSRs. This ranges from front end innovation & strategy projects all the way through to benchtop prototyping. Everything we do is grounded in consumer insight & our research business compliments us by providing qualitative & quantitive to our client base. This ensures that anything we work on has been validated by the end user & the proposition/ concept has the best chance of being a commercial success.

My journey in food started as a chef, I spent 5 years working in restaurant kitchens, including 1 & 2 Michelin star establishments in London. From there i made the step across into LSG group where i worked as a development chef in their central innovation team, developing for high end airlines.

From there i had the opportunity to work for Charlie Bighams working on their upmarket ready meals brand & looking after their own label business with Waitrose, Pret & Itsu. After 3 years i was approached by Waitrose to move into their brand innovation team & to work on their N1. proposition. My role within Waitrose saw me work across many categories & very closely with the supply base & developer teams.

My next role saw me relocate to the middle east, basing myself out of Dubai & working for the French retailer Carrefour. I was recruited into a start-up division to launch chilled private label categories within the region. This saw me oversee the design & scale up of a brand new innovation & manufacturing site. We launched around 150 dishes within 2 years in the market across food to go, meal boxes, ready meals, counters & deli. We passed our IFS audit & the site became fully operational just after the Covid restrictions came to an end.

This takes me to present day, I joined food innovation solutions after i relocated back to London. My role is to lead the innovation business & the team of developers, chefs & innovation consultants. Working on a varied portfolio of clients & projects, we support on everything from strategy creation, all the way through to 3PM & prototyping. I love the variety & pace of being a consultant & how closely i can work with our consumer research business to really elevate concepts & drive a consumer centric approach to innovation & NPD.

Product Development Manager at The Compleat Food Group

Invest Northern Ireland is the government business development agency for Northern Ireland, offering capability development and export support to food and drink companies.

Michelle manages the GB market for the Food and Drink Business Development Team in Invest Northern Ireland, working with buyers and trade associations to identify opportunities for NI suppliers.

For 21 years I was a part of the McDonald's Russia team, holding various roles in finance, market research and marketing. I arrived in London in 2018 to study at the prestigious Le Cordon Blue, graduating with a Grand Diploma in cuisine and patisserie. I've returned to market research as a director at Circana - a new company created through the merger of two leading market research companies, The NPD Group and IRI.

An R&D professional, passionate foodie and positive person. I feel passionately that food should be nourishing our body and our soul and that it should be ethically and sustainably produced. I believe that successful organisations have strong purpose and values and I know that a positive mindset is a choice we make. After 30 incredible years in the food industry in Innovation leadership roles, I now have a portfolio career, focusing on supporting food entrepreneurs and SME's and on lecturing at the "one of a kind" National Bakery School. My purpose is to use my skills, expertise and passion to make a positive impact to food businesses and organisations and to inspire the next generation to join and excel in the magical world of food science & technology. You can reach me on valiachristidou.vc@gmail.com, www.thefoodlaunchpad.co.uk or through my blog www.itsonlybiscuits.com

Caterer, Chef, Catering Consultant specializing in historical and wild food cookery and event management.

I am a London-based freelance writer and copy-editor specialising in food and wine. I write about a full range of tasty topics, shorter news items and longer more intensely researched pieces. I also write about restaurants, chefs and winemakers as well as food-related books and travel. Links to some of my published work and additional content can be found on my website: bencolvill.com

I have trained over a number of years with the WSET (Wine & Spirit Education Trust) and the Academy of Cheese, and have undertaken online training with Le Cordon Bleu, the Comité Champagne and the advanced courses of the Wines of the PDO Jerez - Sherry Academy. I also have practical experience in the wine and cheese trades.

I am a member of the Guild of Food Writers and have degrees from the universities of Warwick, Oxford and Goldsmiths, University of London.

David started his career working as a qualified chef in the hospitality and leisure sector for ten years. He then started running a food ingredients company, followed by moving into the food production and NPD sector where he successfully set-up and ran a food manufacturing company for twelve years. Now he is fully embedded in supporting businesses in their NPD requirements, process improvement and implementation of automated systems. He is one of those industry titans who can be relied on to always add innovation and imaginative thinking - as well as driving quality standards by continual improvement. His craft has been honed by working with some of the best companies in the hospitality and retail sectors – including Bill’s, The Ivy, Gaucho, Paul UK, PRESS Health Foods, Whole Foods Market, Caffé Nero, SSP Group, Carluccio’s, Nestlé, Little Dish, Renourish, Deliveroo, Coop Southern, Deliciously Ella, No. 1 Lounges and Sourced Market.

As Sales and Marketing Director I work closely with brands needing support to accelerate their business. Visionary Food Solutions has a highly experienced team, which can form an extension to your business, whether you are at an early stage founder at the beginning of your journey or a multi-national with a desire to accelerate a channel entry or brand growth! Our strengths sit in Retail, Convenience, and supporting brands looking to enter the UK or export market. So if you need mentoring through your challenges, strategy creation, channel entry planning, brand support, business development or account management, then, Visionary Food solutions is for you.

With over 20 years experience with Food and Drink brands from Strategy creation through to Implementation! My experience as a creative and commercially focused strategic professional, with in-depth experience and a sustained record of success in B2B/B2C Marketing, Brand Management and Business Development. Key roles and specialties include UK Retail Channel Entry, Business Development, Brand Growth, Food & Drink Specialist, Account Management and Export (USA and UAE)

Jason has spent 4 decades in the food industry and is enjoying starting his 5^th...

Michelin Star Years - these years saw Jason in his chef’s whites with Roux Brothers and other luminaries leading to the helm of some of London’s most prestigious restaurants.

Café Society Years - Café Rouge took 100 years of café society and swiftly planted them in high streets over the country aptly joined by Dome, Dragon Inns & Mamma Amalfi. Jason’s 10 year journey took the group from 4 to 160+ café bars in roles as diverse as operations director to purchasing & marketing director.

Premium Restaurants - Quality restaurants were flying back with successful brands such as Chez Gérard, Livebait and Bertorelli’s with Jason as their commercial director running food development, purchasing, information technology and property functions.

Gastro Pub Boom - Jason joined the Spirit Group as food director and put pub food firmly on the map, which became a significant growth driver both for their 3,000 pubs and for the rest of the industry. That successful drive continued in his role at SFI where the team took a group with an uncertain financial future to one of the most promising bar groups on the high st such as Slug & Lettuce, Ha Ha! and Havana.

Retail Years - Jason joined M&S and picked up a number of accolades heading up over 100 restaurants, 300 coffee shops & over 60 global operations in excess of £1 billion per annum. Jason was also responsible for the rolling out of 50 new deli counters adding theatre in their food halls as well as revitalising their in-store bakery operation, bringing a new award-winning concept to over 450 stores in under 18 months stealing significant market growth. This followed by Jason as executive director driving LFL, footfall & huge ROI in 140 Garden & Leisure Centres across the UK

Hana Group UK - Jason started Hana Group in UK and in under 5 years has opened over 200 units winning hearts & minds of customers as trend for healthy food and in store theatre reaches across the UK changing face of retail.

I'm the Founder of Vypr, a Product Intelligence platform that enables clients to understand their target consumers with fast, cost-effective insight to make the right product decisions at the right time. I started out in the food & drink industry as a Buyer for Sainsbury’s, buying various chilled food categories, before moving to a similar role at the Co-op. From there I began my entrepreneurial journey and have since founded 5 businesses in total across both the technology and FMCG sectors. I set up Vypr to drive better outcomes in the product innovation process through the use of predictive consumer insight, combining my experience in the FMCG sector with my love of technology. Vypr is now one of the fastest growing technology businesses in the UK, proudly headquartered in Manchester.

An agile category and insight expert with experience across a wide-range of product sectors.

My company, Contigo Management, was founded out of a passion to deliver relevant insights and strategies in the food industry, blending the needs and wants of consumers and those of retailers and food outlets. With a proven track record of adding value, we unlock business potential by working with you to bring consumer insight to the heart of your thinking. Our client base includes major UK grocery multiples, their suppliers as well as established FMCG food brands.

As a seasoned foodie, I enjoy being part of the Q Awards, as they enable me to combine my knowledge of the industry with judging the array of product entries from a consumer viewpoint.

Throughout his career, Tim has worked with some of the biggest and most well-known brands in consumer-packaged goods, across a myriad of sectors; sports apparel, technology, clothing, personal grooming and – his true passion - food and beverage.

 His thirty-year career began in the middle of the Saudi Arabian desert and weaved through Eastern Europe, Africa, Asia, North and South America, with two guiding principles to achievement commonplace throughout – success is borne through knowing the minutiae of customers’ needs and wants and evangelising passionately for their interests.

During the Covid lockdown Tim assembled a crack team and working together over the next two years they developed DuelFuel www.duelfuel.com launching at the beginning of 2022.

Highly experienced and trained Food technologist/auditor. Experienced in food audits / consultancy product management in (over 2000 throughout the world (42 countries), covering all food products and processes. With a wealth of production, technical and quality knowledge, strategic viewpoint and eye for detail can execute audits and assist suppliers to develop their sites, structural, process and staff development.

Experienced include retail product Technical management,flexible and adaptive to incidents and associted recognized investigative skills.

I am an R&D professional passionate about making food joyful. I started as a chef over 35 years ago and have since worked in food R&D, taking ideas from thought to fork through production, wholesale, and retail. Nine years ago, I founded Food Science Fusion to address issues in the food and beverage industry: commercial viability, improving nutrition, and reducing waste. Our expertise lies in practical problem-solving. Seven years ago, in collaboration with three other experts, we founded the workshop and coaching program "How Many Beans?" to help new brands develop safe, legal, scalable, and commercial products.

After many years working with an analogue meat brand Sally decided to form her own business, Marketing Foods, in 2008 with the specific aim of helping local artisan food businesses get their brand and products to a wider audience, and support them through continued growth in all sectors. Her business has gone from strength to strength and Sally now works with national brands (some export and some small start ups) with marketing strategy, brand strategy, digital strategy, PR and NPD. Sally’s passion for high quality natural food products is reflected through her work and she is driven by a true believe in the importance of real honest good food.

Managing Director at F!S Group - Food Innovation Solutions ~ Good Sense Research ~ Kicr Innovation ~ Cambridge Market Research

Accomplished developer for both retailer and food manufacturer with experience across multiple food for now categories and a passion for all things baked and baking.

22 years retail experience across retail and Own label I’m a highly accomplished, result driven Passionate foodie who is highly passionate about Authentic leadership.

Experience of Leading both small and large teams with a proven track record in Retail and leadership. Due to having many transferable skills across NPD and commercial buying I’m able to balance creativity with profitability . Recognised as a creative thinker and strategic planner who has experience in developing new business opportunities across retail, manufacturing and branded offers. Being able to utilise data to making decisions and always having the customer at the heart. Resilient and experienced In leading teams through change to achieve and exceed demanding targets through a clear and focused aligned strategy. Commercial acumen, inspirational communication skills and the ability to translate corporate vision into effective action plans that deliver results.

An inspirational leader who is passionate about coaching teams and helping others reach their full potential whilst achieving goals.

People and personal development are also a personal passion as someone who’s using her network to always be curious and inspire younger generations to enter into the food industry.

Heerum has been a successful food, drink and packaging buyer for many global businesses for over 16 years. She understands the buyers constraints and pains so therefore creates solutions for them. Her last place of work, Gate Gourmet, is where Heerum built direct relationships with airline and train buyers and listed many new start up brands at the time such as Jo & Seph's, Salty Dog plus many more.

Our Founder Heerum Fleary has successfully been a volunteer mentor and business advisor for Virgin Start Up for over four years and was awarded mentor of the year in 2020. Supporting and guiding food & drink brands at any stage of their journey is her speciality.

Experienced Procurement Director with a demonstrated history of working in the catering and hospitality industry. Skilled in Negotiation, Catering, Business Planning, Operations Management, and Coaching. Strong operations professional with a HND focused in Hospitality Management from Westminster College Vincent Square.

With over 12 years of expertise in the digital space, coupled with a vast 20-year background in business development and growth, Tez brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the table.

As a well-versed specialist, Tez has successfully overseen numerous website developments, including impactful redesigns and optimisation efforts, and playing a pivotal role in restructuring sales and marketing departments for businesses, ensuring improved efficiency and effectiveness. Tez has worked within the food & beverage industry helping start-ups to scale-up, as well well as working with well known brands across the industry. 


tez@workmonks.com
www.workmonks.com

I am a student studying Food Science and Nutrition at the University of Leeds. I am currently on placement with the technical team at the Healy Group. I have a passion for product development and am enthusiastic about gaining a further insight into the food industry wherever I can.

Specialist in food and drink new product development and mission-driven business development.

Food scientist with over 25 years’ experience in food supply and retail including roles at Marks and Spencer and Tesco, and as Managing Director of Liberation Foods CIC.

In-depth knowledge of creating and running a successful, values-based company.

Expertise in developing and managing supply chains - from developing country small-scale producers to major retailers - and in project and critical path management, with a food technology focus.

Recent consultancy roles with Costa Coffee, The Fairtrade Foundation and Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew.

Ian is an experienced product development and innovation specialist with a career spanning over 30 years in the UK Retail and Foodservice markets. Throughout his career, he has held senior New Product Development roles with blue chip companies, including United Biscuits, Heinz, Bernard Matthews, Youngs Seafoods, Aunt Bessie's and Faccenda Foods.

In 2017, Ian established his own food and drink consultancy, In 2 Food Innovation Ltd. Since then, he has had the opportunity to work with clients such as Dairy Crest, Cranswick Prepared Poultry, ABP, Glendale Foods, and many others.

Ian enjoyed his first experience of being a judge with the Q Awards in 2022 and is looking forward to being part of the panel again in 2023.

An experienced (over 25 years) NPD professional, specialising in Flavour and Flavour Ingredients, with experience in most market sectors, including savoury (crisps, batter and breading's), Confectionary, Beverage - alcoholic and non alcoholic. Working with customers in retail and trade.

I have a passion for anything food and drink, from TV programmes to visiting restaurants, looking in supermarkets for new launches whilst keeping a close eye on trend insights. 

Karen is a former retail buyer from Tesco and Boots who crossed the negotiating table to take on sales roles selling everything from turkeys to Christmas puddings. She uses that unique commercial viewpoint to provide consultancy to UK and overseas food and drink enabling them to to sell more and sell better. Her clients have had success gaining listings in all the major supermarkets and other relevant retailers.

She is the author of two best-selling books “Recipe for Success” and “Buyer-ology – know your buyer, sell more and sell better”, which launched in March 2023 and regularly contributes to the Grocer and other press.

Karen is a currently UK sales advisor for UN International Trade Centre and is a volunteer mentor for Mission kitchen. She is passionate about food and regularly judges awards including Great Taste, Farm shop and Deli and quality food awards. She recently won her own award - Women in Sales 2023.

Dawn Gribble is a highly experienced professional with over 20 years of experience in the food and beverage industry. She has worked with various award-winning hotels, restaurants, international food brands, celebrity chefs, and influencers.

Dawn is also an international speaker and expert guest judge on The Restaurant Talent Show. Her passion for food has led her to appear on MasterChef in 2014 and teach cooking at private colleges.

Dawn's food writing has been featured in various publications, including the Huffington Post, MissingLettr, This Woman Can, Modern Restaurants, Social Media Today, and Menuism.

As the founder of DG Consulting, Dawn provides marketing strategies, campaign plans, support materials, and content creation services to help clients in the hospitality, industry. She uses her expertise in strategic planning, market segmentation, brand communications, digital and marketing campaigns, research and report generation, and project life-cycle management to deliver targeted campaigns that drive traffic, increase brand awareness, and generate revenue for her clients.

Head of Innovation at Barts Ingredients, lover of all things food, Dad, amateur pitt master, gardener, & brewer!

Swindon UK

Having worked for most of my career in the food and drink industry, I have extensive experience working across both retail and foodservice channels developing FMCG brands and private label across a wide range of frozen, fresh and chilled categories. I'm a marketeer at heart with a commercial head and known to be a bit of a consumer insight geek... I live by the belief success only comes to those who understand their customer, inside and out!

The Alexir Partnership are unique in combined the manufacture of bespoke food packaging along with co packing for the retail, food to go and travel industries. Specialist board packaging designed to replace plastics is now of prime importance and our unique relationships have enabled Alexir to replace plastic packaging with specialty plastic free boards for a wide variety of food applications, this includes fresh produce as well as wet fresh and chilled/frozen foods. We can now also offer plastic free ovenable food packaging for the travel industry including hot entrees.

Nikki Hawkins has been in the Hospitality industry for many years. Starting her career in Hotel Catering & Management, further specialising in Events and Hospitality. Nikki then spent 20 years in the Seafood Industry focusing on NPD/menu development with a team of seafood Chef Ambassadors, developing culinary competitions & events. Since 2020 she has successfully set up an independent consultancy. NIkki is also a Chair of a local Charity, Councillor and a Magistrate.

I've enjoyed being part of London's food scene for the last 27 years whether its selling toasted sandwiches on a street food stall in Maltby Street or developing new product ranges for several of the large retailers. My working and social life pivot around around food, cuisines, ingredients and the seasons and I'm driven by creativity and disruption. As food and cuisines evolve, so does my learning. I consider travel and gardening essential elements in how I understand and perceive food. I take great pleasure in nature and enjoy fishing, surfing, and foraging.

My food career began as a Sainsburys graduate trainee acquiring various managerial roles in a number of large east London stores in the mid nineties. I later moved to their Head Office in Stamford Street around 2000. Having spent over a decade developing Sainsbury's own label offer across numerous categories I took a year out to travel the world and expand my foodie horizons.

On my return I published my first novel based on a mixture of food, emotion and the travel genre before taking my next role as a development manager on the manufacturing side. It was a site owned by Bakkavor Foods that created pizzas for many of the big retailers.

I remained in manufacturing for a further 8 years leading development teams and becoming an Innovation Director for two separate food businesses.

I returned to food retailing in 2019 as the Innovations manager for Waitrose; a role focussed on building capabilities, strategic own brand input and trend reportage. My core responsibility was the annual trend book.

My most recent role is my first real foray into development within a branded business. Empire Bespoke foods import managed brands from all over the world but its the brands that we own such as Mrs Elswood, Thai Taste and Malay Taste that are my responsibility for building, evolving and developing.

Managing Director | Strategy | Business Development | Brand Growth | Food & Drink Specialist

We are Food and Drink specialists. We work with brands needing commercial support to accelerate their business. Our highly experienced team, will form an extension to your business, whether you are at an early stage founder at the beginning of your journey or a multi-national with a desire to accelerate a channel entry or brand growth! Our strengths sit in Foodservice, grocery, and supporting brands looking to enter the UK market. So if you need mentoring through your challenges, strategy creation, channel entry planning, business development or account management, then, Visionary Food solutions is for you.

With over 10 years’ experience in the food and drink industry working various roles from Commercial Manager to Managing Director, I have seen a lot of good, great and indifferent approaches to running businesses. These experiences led me to Visionary Food Solutions, a company whose main goal is to accelerate a brands growth and sales development.

With strong connections within retail and Foodservice and a previous experience of working closely with the likes of M&S, Tesco, Asda, Morrisons, Waitrose, Ocado, Iceland, Lidl, Aldi, Bidfood, Brakes, Country Range and Caterforce groups. Visionary Food Solutions can support you and help to take the next step for your business!

I am an accomplished manager with over 35 years of experience in the food industry, Highly motivated and continuously seeking to improve my knowledge and skills in the field, and am eager to share my breadth of experience with others.

Having worked in the food industry for more than 25 years. Catrin works for MNGP who provide technical support services to the food industry, working with start ups to multinationals. Catrin’s knowledge of food legislation and food safety has helped many food and drink businesses ensure the quality and safety of their products, avoiding costly recalls and maintaining brand integrity. Catrin is a member of IFST (Institute of Food Science and Technology).

Pi Food Projects Technical Support for Manufacturing and Retail Businesses All Stages from Concept to Launch Projects + Procurement + Products + Process + People

In 2012 myself and 2 business partners incorporated DJM Food Solutions. The primary goal of the company is to bring unique, healthy and innovative food products to the UK market. We now manage our own brands - award winning St. Lawrence Gold Maple Syrup and Honey. Maple Shack and Golden Creek. DJM is proud to hold a AA BRCGS Importer and Distributor certificate.

Over 35 years in Chill, Frozen, Health & Beauty, Ambient and B2B food and non-food sales. Experienced in brand, retailer own label, NPD, EPD across all major multiple accounts and routes to market.

Caroline is a commercially focussed senior Marcomms Director with extensive management experience working on food and drink brands across multinational Blue Chip and SME businesses.

As a strategic thinker, she has the ability to analyse data and develop insight into a compelling vision for others through multi-channel strategy and communication programmes that drives engagement and conversion.

Sales and trade marketing at Coca-Cola enterprises Ltd (12 years)

Category and consumer marketing at Birds Eye, Nomad foods (12 years)

Marketing director at The Spice Tailor (2 years)

Marketing consultant for FUEL10k and other SME brands

Also, Musician at Pixelstorm band and composer for advertising Jingles and branding.

Lisa Kerr is a conscientious Senior Commercial Strategic Marketing and Brand Professional who has worked across various International markets (the United Kingdom, Europe, South Africa, Africa, Mauritius, India, and The UAE), within Global organisations in the Fast Food/Casual Dining, Leisure, Entertainment, Hospitality and FMCG industries. She has solid and extensive experience in developing and implementing Integrated Creative and Commercially driven Marketing Strategies, Above and Below the Line Advertising,Social & Digitally Lead Campaigns, and Innovation driven Product Management and Development using Stage & Gate Processes for Retail and Foodservice channels, in both B2B and B2C industries.

As the co-founder and CEO of Nix&Kix, I lead a B Corp certified soft drink company that creates refreshingly fruity, naturally zingy, and lightly sparkling beverages with a unique twist of cayenne. Since 2014, I have been on a mission to challenge the status quo in the FMCG industry and offer consumers a healthier, tastier, and more sustainable alternative to conventional soft drinks.

With over 13 years of experience in innovation, supply chain, operations, and program management across various industries, I have developed a strong and integrated sales and marketing team, built up a manufacturing and supply chain model from scratch, and implemented process and data-driven tools to optimize performance and efficiency. Thanks to our multi-channel approach, Nix&Kix can be found in over 10,000 distribution points, including major retailers, convenience stores, food service, and online platforms, as well as internationally in the Netherlands and Ireland. I am also passionate about mentoring and supporting talent in ops, supply chain, product development, and leadership, and I offer pro bono mentorship to aspiring entrepreneurs four times a year.

An enthusiastic Foodie with over 25 years development experience within the chilled food manufacturing industry. My early passion for food began, as it does for many, as a child cooking with my Mother and then subsequently experiencing new foods & flavours while abroad on family holidays in France & Spain. This early education culminated in a degree in Food Science & Nutrition at Oxford Brookes University.

I opted for the development side of the manufacturing Industry and have loved the many unique and varied experiences that has afforded me.

Designing new products and seeing them in supermarket stores, in customers trollies & baskets and even in some high profile occasions utilised on TV advertising, is still a great thrill.

My manufacturing experience began with Poultry but working with Fish & Seafood has become an endearing passion since moving to Scotland over 20 years ago, particularly given the wonderful produce available.

A keen home cook, I love spending time in the kitchen, whether following new recipes, browsing our many recipe books or cooking with new ingredients...and of course being cooked for too.

Caroline has spent 11 years in food, across some of the leading UK manufacturers and retailers. Caroline has a passion for food, having spent time buying tomatoes from Italy and leading cheese categories.

Caroline is currently working for the leading speciality cheesemaker, Butlers Farmhouse Cheese, who specialise in hard, soft and blue cheese from their family farm.

Our company publish Cash & Carry Management trade journal and help collect date for the market and give advice to suppliers trying to reach out to this market for distribution and product placement.

I have been involved in the cash and carry/wholesale industry for over 40 years. I offer advice to food and drink suppliers on how best to navigate the cash and carry/wholesale sector and sell into buying groups. In the past twelve months I have helped write scripts and given advice on buying groups for TV and appeared on Channel 5 and Netflix.

A dynamic and agile individual who has a genuine passion, drive and creative flair for global product innovation. Highly experienced with over 15 years focused on International marketing and innovative product development.

Experienced business development professional with a demonstrated history of working in the food & beverages industry. Skilled in Catering, Food & Beverage, Retail, Wholesale, and Pricing Strategy.

Janette Marshall has edited Slimming World, Weight Watchers, Good Health, Tesco Healthy Living, and was launch editor of Delicious and deputy editor of BBC Good Food.

 She has also been freelance food/health editor of a variety of monthly and weekly consumer magazines e.g. Good Housekeeping, My Weekly, Woman’s Weekly, Red, Bella, Best.

Janette was originator of the now ubiquitous Tried & Tested food column in The Sunday Times.

She is author of more than 20 food, health and cookery books, including ghost writing titles accompanying BBC TV series and educational pack materials for schools. 

Among her publishers are Reader’s Digest, Dorling Kindersley, Vermilion, Random House, Penguin, Egmont, BBC

Author of food/cookery books for Tesco and Sainsbury’s.

In the food Award arena Janette is a Coordinator mediating with judges and originating editorial copy for Great Taste Awards (The Guild of Fine Foods).

She was previously a joint manager and co-ordinator of tastings for the Academy of Chocolate.

Janette has also won several awards for her books and journalism.

Highly experienced retail buyer having started my career as Patisserie & Bread buyer at Fortnum & Mason, moved through Safeway as Prepared Veg, Stir Fry and prepared fruits buyer and spent 17 years buying for Waitrose & Partners.  Buying across multiple categories including Horticulture, Ambient and Fresh foods and non-food; through both bricks & mortar and e-commerce channels.

Core skills include Negotiation, Strategic and Brand Development; creating Sustainable, Profitable, value and volume growth for the business.

Uniquely positioned to provide a detailed insider perspective on how buyers think, what they are looking for and deliver advice on how to fit in and adapt succinctly with a retailer's on-line and off-line business model.

Through these key skills I provide advice on supermarket and e-commerce retailing and the food & horticulture industry. Sharing my knowledge to help clients develop their businesses, as well as working to strategically build their assortments to drive profitable sales for their company.

I'm Becky and I have been working in the food industry for nearly 10 years. All of that time I have been working in the food innovation team at Sainsbury's and have been lucky enough to launch hundreds of products working across some truly delicious categories including Dairy, Meat Fish & Poultry, Frozen, Produce and i'm currently in the Grocery team looking after the Impulse category. I'm a passionate foodie, constantly scouting out the latest food innovations in flavour, formats and packaging and still think the best feeling in the world is seeing products you've worked on standing proud on our shelves!

Jackie Mitchell, freelance journalist and blogger in the food, drink and health sectors, has worked on newspapers, magazines and digital media in the UK, Hong Kong, Australia and New York. Specialising in the foodservice, hospitality and “free from” sectors, she writes for several UK and European publications and web sites and is also a radio presenter on Brooklands Radio.

Strategic category product development leader

Registered associate nutritionist (ANutr)

Qualified ILM level 5 coach & mentor

Founder, Exec-Chairman and Recruitment Specialist at MorePeople

James is lead of marketing and has a hand in sales at Facilit8 & Flourish, a small ingredients company based in Herefordshire, predominantly sourcing agave products from Mexico. Always keen and looking out for sustainable, innovative new ingredients/products in the food industry, James has a strong affinity and interest in all things food and drink.

Always engrossed in food, whether it be sourcing, experimenting or eating, James is always looking to broaden his knowledge across the industry and learn about new and exciting products on the market.

Extremely well-travelled and experienced food ingredients background across manufacturers, distributors and now also as an importer of ingredients. Self-employed with several long standing clients, all with ingredients or ideas targeting the latest consumer trends of sugar, fat and salt reduction and/or the wellbeing sector.

Several early roles that taught me how the world of food works that lead into senior positions in the natural ingredients arena (flavours, juices, compounds, agave, fibres, sweeteners & other innovative products). Finished my corporate life running the India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Nepal territory for a global flavours house and set up self-employed in 2015. Now with 5 clients and the seed of a family business developing, there is still plenty to be excited about.

Leanne Osborne, Managing Director (UK) at BioPak

Leanne has been BioPak UK’s Managing Director since 2019. During this time, Leanne has led the UK branch of the business to nearly double its revenue and is successfully overseeing the company’s current expansion into European markets. In her role as Managing Director, Leanne has built strong relationships with major players in the food and drink industry, including Deliveroo, Pasta Evangelists, Hard Rock Café and Big Table Group, to name just a few. With BioPak recently being named as winners at the WorldStar Packaging Awards, Leanne knows what it takes for businesses to stand out from the competition and Leanne will be bringing this eye for detail to the judging panel.

I am a passionate foodie that strives for what good looks like and am massively into barbequing!

I have had some great years as an Interim development, process, specs, projects and packaging person working across all the retailers, B2B and food service clients.

Companies I have worked for include:

Moy Park, Princes, Cargill, Bakkavor, Greencore, Billingtons, UK Poultry, Cranswick, Branston, Hilton Seafood, Oscar Mayer, Fenmarc, ABP, New England Seafood, Copernus, Sleaford Quality Foods.

Passionate about great tasting food with 13 years of experience developing and delivering high quality products across retail, manufacturing, start-ups and food tech. Knowledge of a large variety of categories across chilled and ambient, gained whilst creating best in class offerings across both private label and branded businesses. Most recently leading global product strategy across 16 countries and 4 brands for the world leader in fresh, nutritious recipes delivered to your door.

I now work with ambitious people in the food industry to coach them to the next level of career success.

HelloFresh: meal kits

Leon Grocery: taking QSR brand in to grocery at Sainsbury's

Kerry foods - Waitrose: ready meals

Metcalfe's Skinny: snack start up working directly with the founder of Pret A Manger and Itsu

Greencore - Waitrose: food to go

Sainsbury's: bakery, produce, meal solutions

Ekta is a veteran QFA judge having joined the panel over a decade ago. The Mumbai native took a leap and moved to London almost a decade and a half ago to pursue her passion for the food industry. She holds a Master’s degree in Food Science and has worked in the industry across various disciplines and categories from bakery to ready meals. She has worked for corporate giants, retailers, and small businesses alike across the UK and EU, specialising in compliance and regulatory food law. She currently works as a Consultant Food Scientist. In her spare time, Ekta enjoys cooking and hosting dinner parties when she is not sampling and exploring London’s amazingly versatile and vibrant food scene!

Find me the Leads is a Sales Consultancy helping food and drink brands get their products into more places and in front of more people. Find me the Leads offers three core services of: Lead Generation, New Business Development and Trade Show Support.

I have a long background in Sales working in FMCG and family owned Businesses before setting up my own business in 2018. I have experience in multiple product categories within ambient grocery, such as: Pet Food, Baked goods, Soft Drinks, Confectionery, Cooking sauces, condiments and relish,Rice, pasta and grains and Hot beverages.

Graduated with 2nd class Honours Chemistry, Aberystwyth. 1962. Started career in Food industry with Cadbury's as Research Chemist , developed Marvel Milk Powder. Early career spent with major companies -Unilever,Shell, Pfizer. Appointed Works Director with Pura Foods in 1976, followed by appointment as Factory Director with Pendletons Icecream in 1980. Formed own company in 1996, Genice Foods, as main supplier of icecream to TGI Fridays and Pizza Hut. Branched out into non dairy development products, via Natural Bites( Natural Wholefoods), and produced first long life soya yoghurts in Europe for both Linda McCartney and Heather Mills.

At the age of 82 still engaged fulltime in development and production of dairy and non dairy food products for major companies, with my son Nial.

Kateline has built a career in identifying new and changing food evolutions across the world and converting them into relevant ideas for consumers and diners.

A food science degree and time in professional kitchens led Kateline to strategic product development for national and international retail and food service chains before immersing in the world of trends. Creating practical methodologies to identify changes in the world of food and drink she’s worked across sectors to bring ideas to life for retailers, global QSR, manufacturers, hospitality and F&B brands.

At Egg Soldiers Kateline identifies what type of insight clients need in order to create food-forward successful businesses.

My name is Emily! I'm a content creator from south London with a passion for food, I am able to make something out of anything and enjoy sharing my food hacks with my followers on Instagram and Tiktok. I have created recipes for many brands and a few for winners of the quality food awards! Some of my hacks and recipes have been featured in news articles, food network, lad bible, the feed feed and more channels. I enjoy recognising amazing tasting food, what pairs together and what looks visually appealing.

I have worked in catering industry for nearly 30 years, starting my career as a chef and then moving through hotel management, to event catering, contract catering, head of F&B for a large hotel company and now as a consultant working for clients helping them get the best at work catering solution they can.

I also worked for Sainsburys where I developed and opened the first Organic Supermarket restaurant. I also have an interest in food the helps support and develop the gut's microbiome

With my passion for working in the food industry, years' of experience with brands and manufacturers, I'm currently working self-employed as a Marketing Consultant.

In September 2020, I launched Nourish Marketing & Events - NOURISH WAS CREATED BY FOODIES FOR FOODIES, WHICH IS WHY SHARING NEWS ABOUT GREAT PRODUCTS IS OUR PASSION. A reputable marketing and events consultancy with over 16 years experience, specialising in supporting B2B and B2C food and drink businesses in the UK and across the globe to grow and succeed.

Healy Group – Application & Technical Director (Current)

Focus Food Solutions – Consultant Owner / Director

AVEBE Food Starches – Market Manager + Launches of Eliane® (first waxy potato starch) + Etenia® (thermoreversible gelling starch)

Newly Weds Foods – Commercial role selling functional solutions. (Coatings / Seasonings / Functional Blends)

New York Bakery – Grupo Bimbo – Development Manager (Bagels)

Unilever – Frozen Food / Ice cream (Birds Eye & Wall’s) (Frozen Foods / Ice cream

Alembic – Sauces, dressings, mayonnaises

Kraft - Coffee

Katharine is an experienced product development and innovation specialist with over 18 years’ experience across a number of retailers namely, Asda, Morrisons & latterly head of innovation at Coop. She had a true passion and excitement for food and delivering what customers want and need now and in the future from direct customers to end users all alongside ensuring this forms part of making a profitable business.

In 2022 Katharine set up Food Curious Food, a food & drink consultancy. Services include: Trends & Market Insight, Product Strategy & Proposition, Product Development & Innovation and Training, Culture & Engagement.

Andrew has over four decades’ experience in the food industry. Starting way back in 1977, his first industry job was putting pieces of salami on the top of pizzas for M&S.... Fast forward 46 years and as the founder of TQS Food Consulting, he has extensive experience in food safety, legality, labelling, HACCP, product integrity, quality assurance and hygiene across many areas of the food industry, encompassing raw materials, food processing and manufacture including import/export and distribution.

During his forty plus year career to date, Andrew has worked with a diverse cross-section of the food industry, from small private firms to multi-nationals and with two of the UK’s largest food retailers.

Andrew's main business interest, TQS Food Consulting, primarily advises and assists UK and overseas food businesses in meeting the food safety, legality, regulatory & compliance, including quality assurance expectations of local, legislative and customer requirements and in particular the BRC Global Standard for Food and SALSA Standards.

The TQS Portfolio of activity also includes Spec-Tecs, an award winning business for which he was the catalyst in starting during the Spring of 2003. Merged with TQS Food Consulting in 2010, TQS-Spec-Tecs specialises in providing technical support service in the creation and writing of UK retailer product specifications. TQS-Spec-Tecs technologists have worked with a diverse range of businesses in the UK, across Europe and with a number of major UK food retailers. The TQS-Spec-Tecs book "Write it Right'.... or how to avoid the seven silly slip ups of supermarket spec writing, is available via www.tequalsys.com

Andrew’s personal experience encompasses chocolate and sugar confectionery as well as other ambient stable grocery product categories, chilled and frozen foods. He has, in his professional capacity, travelled extensively over the past thirty plus years throughout the world and is well positioned to understand and appreciate many of the “cultural difficulties” and “attitudes” that often prevail to food safety, legality and integrity in countries outside the UK.

Andrew is a Fellow of The Society of Food Hygiene and Technology (FSOFHT), is a member of the Royal Society for Public Health (MRSPH) and is also involved with a number of food safety related committees and working groups in the UK. He has also historically lectured in HACCP assessment for enforcement officers across the UK.

Denise has worked in the food & drink industry for over 25 years. and currently develops and food styles all the recipes and videos for the AHDB Domestic and Export Marketing projects and campaigns. Her extensive experience ranges from working in food & drink PR,TV and media, at the world-renowned Le Cordon Bleu Cookery School, as a Senior Home Economist for Nestlé and Food Advisor at the Sea Fish Industry Authority and Food Advisor at the Sea Fish Industry Authority as part of the marketing team, where Denise worked across all sectors of the seafood industry to promote good quality, sustainable British seafood. She has a Masters in Culinary Arts from the University of Brighton and is a member of The Guild of Food Writers.

Paul started his career in Marketing and Buying with the Co-Op and then joined Aldi UK as their very first buyer, constructing the initial range prior to the first UK store opening in 1990. Paul developed private label ranges from scratch across many ambient, frozen, chilled, and non-food categories, being responsible for supplier negotiations, category strategies and private label new product sourcing and design development.

Paul then held the post of Group Director, managing teams of buyers across diverse categories focusing on executing category strategies, ensuring a dynamic level of new product development whilst also managing sales and margin mix within the fiercely competitive UK grocery market.

After leaving Aldi in 2020, Paul joined up with IPLC, International Private Label Consult, private label specialists operating across 9 European countries. Paul assists manufacturers in building profitable sales within the private label arena and speaks at International fairs and webinars.

Paul is married with four children, one grandson and lives near Stratford-Upon-Avon.

Georgina Stewart is a nutrition adviser and founder of The Nutrient Gap. She founded The Nutrient Gap, a food consultancy company in 2020 after spending over a decade working in the sports nutrition industry.

Georgina has worked for major food brands like Heinz, own label Amazon products, Wingstop and Prodigy along with a leading sports brand Wiggle. Her roles have included product development, supply chain, labelling compliance and nutritional and allergen profiling for the out of home sector. Georgina is also an expert in  nutrition and health claims Georgina is passionate about transparency within the food industry and is a big champion of challenger brands having more exposure in the retail sector.

Georgina is also a volunteer grants advisor for the Northamptonshire Community Foundation and a judge for the Weetabix Food & Drink Awards in Northamptonshire. She is also a professional member of the Royal Society of Public Health committed to improving public health through better nutrition.

International Culinary and Ingredient Strategist. 

Brought up in the South West of France, food has always played a huge role in my life. I am passionate about food history, processes, development and innovations, and have over sixteen years experience in the industry.

Very proud to be part of the team launching Amazon Fresh stores and the By Amazon brand in the UK www.amazon.co.uk/freshstore/

Successful Sales and Marketing Professional Specialising in FMCG Food and Beverage Brands within the Retail Channel

I am a highly dedicated and innovative individual with a significant track record of professional achievement and over 20 years’ experience in marketing strategy, brand development and sales. I have a wealth of experience over a number of marketing channels inclusive of trade, brand, consumer and International marketing. In addition to marketing, I have established a strong and reputable sales track record - implementing and driving key sales strategy and growth notably within the UK Major Multiple Retailers.

I am a very passionate individual with strong communication skills. I pride myself on my organised approach to my work and I am meticulous on all projects and tasks.

I have worked for a number of high profile brands including Penny Skateboards (Absolute Board Co), Benefit Cosmetics, Animal Clothing, SEA LIFE (Merlin Entertainments), Ski In Luxury, Bonne Maman/St Michel and Organix baby snacks.

Dominic Weaver, Twelve Communications, has three decades of experience in journalism and communications, specialising in fresh food, logistics, packaging, and other B2B sectors.

A skilled PR, editor, and journalist, Dominic has fronted of a range of successful communication campaigns, gaining coverage in trade publications, consumer magazines, and the national press, online and on social media. He’s conceived, organised and attended media briefings, international press trips, educational drives, and many other PR initiatives.

Dominic has worked with a diverse range of clients ranging from government commercial offices and trade associations to manufacturers and suppliers. He has built strong relationships with the media, influencers, chefs, retailers, suppliers, government departments, charities, and academia.

Dominic has sat on and chaired judging panels for the Quality Food Awards since 2003.

Rowan is the Commercial Officer at the Marine Stewardship Council (MSC) UK and Ireland team. Having researched overfishing problems in East Africa as the topic of his Master’s thesis at the London School of Economics, Rowan joined the MSC in the autumn of 2022 to develop his passion for sustainable seafood into a career. His work at the MSC is currently focused upon expanding the range of MSC-certified products in the nutraceuticals space and on university canteen menus within the UK and Ireland.

Sarah is a food industry professional with more than 12 years’ experience in food manufacturing and labelling compliance. Her experience in retailer food specifications and product labelling compliance has taken her across the UK working for a range of food businesses, clients now include startups, manufacturers and international retailers across the UK, EU and USA. Product experience: Ready meals, bakery (savoury and sweet), sandwiches & salads, prepared produce & fresh fruit, cooked meats, raw meat, fresh poultry/added value poultry/game, confectionary, chilled party food, drinks, vegan and plant based products.

Sarah also manages the food business side of CERTLabel Ltd, which provides labelling compliance services and export solutions for companies without an EU/UK entity, assisting clients in their export process. 

She is a Member of the Institute of Food Science and Technology (MIFST) and an Associate Member of the Chartered Institute of Export & International Trade (AMCIEx). 

Head of Out of Home Channel, BEL UK

After 2 decades working in leadership roles the corporate world with global restaurant and food brands, Michele set up her own business, Foodservice Support, in 2009 with the aim of helping smaller, up & coming brands and concepts with their growth strategies and plans and making sure they were operationally set up for success.

Now with a strong client base of national and international food & restaurant brands, Michele supports a range of retail and hospitality operators across Europe & Middle East with brand, marketing and digital strategies, menu strategy & product development and business development, including franchise growth programmes.

UK-based content creator. Have been reviewing afternoon teas and tasting menus since 2010. Most recent is a trip to Thailand with a focus on fine dining in Bangkok where we reviewed 8 Tasting Menus across 8 Days. This included discovering so fabulous local produce including Thai wagyu and Thai cocoa. https://twitter.com/implausibleblog/status/1671744826876862467

Born in the UK, my background is in finance and technology where I spent many years in and out of the Eastern Europe and the Far East, including over 25 trips to China.

In 2010 I moved into social media and content creation and have been in this space ever since. We cover food, fashion, travel and tech. Along with reviewing afternoon teas and tasting menus, I've been a food judge with the Great Taste Awards, Bellavita, the Academy of Chocolate, and of course QFA.