OUR MISSION
SHAPING THE
FUTURE OF FOOD
OUR MISSION IS TO INSPIRE AND ENCOURAGE ENTREPRENEURIAL MINDS TO CREATE SOLUTIONS FOR TOMORROW’S FOOD CHALLENGES.
The Future of Food Competition is a free, fully inclusive, not-for-profit event. Amidst significant global changes and rapidly evolving megatrends, this challenge shines a spotlight on opportunities and issues in the food industry. By encouraging debate, entrepreneurialism and innovative thinking, we seek to drive progress and positive change. We hope this event becomes a regular highlight in the calendar for everyone passionate about investing time, energy and money in food entrepreneurship.
“If working apart we are a force powerful enough to destabilise our planet, surely working together we are powerful enough to save it” - Sir David Attenborough
OUR JOURNEY:
FROM IDEA to IMPACT
Most entrepreneurs, investors, CEOs and politicians have a short, self-determined 3-5 year strategic horizon. Few look beyond this. Adapting or changing the way we do things for later years can only really happen in 3 ways.
Governmental legislation
Investor pressure
Entrepreneurial endeavour
It is the latter that we’re focusing on here to encourage a longer term ‘thought process’. These ideas when put to practice may influence public opinion, force larger corporates to take note and perhaps politicians may seek to subsequently adapt policy too. The Future of Food final event is designed to be an inspiring and valuable experience for all attendees with this in mind.
In 2023, Barney ran a similar Schools challenge with Makyth Ventures at Winchester College, where students from 20 schools acted as advisors to FUEL10K, imagining the year 2043. The event was hugely successful, insightful and impressive.
Encouraged by entrants, judges and attendees, we decided to bring the challenge to the real world—and here we are!
After our inaugural event in November 2024 where we have 105 entries, 16 brilliant finalists, 4 expert key notes and 6 esteemed judges - we welcomed over 350 stakeholders from across our industry. Take a look at the 2024 Edition. In 2025, we had 221 entrants and filled the RGS to the brim. Buoyed by the continuing encouragement from the industry we couldn’t stop there!
The Future of Food competition is one of a kind and now in it’s second season. It will be at the forefront of food innovation, driving impactful change and inspiring the next generation of food entrepreneurs.
THE DREAM TEAM
Why us?
Barney has long been a strong advocate for entrepreneurialism and positive change within the food industry throughout his career. His passion is to encourage & help the next generation of entrepreneurs to tackle and solve opportunities and issues that are fast coming down the track.
Barney began his food and drink experience as employee #007 at smoothie-maker innocent drinks in 2000. He left to set up an exporting business called Fresh Marketing for rising star UK food and drink brands. In 2012, he co-founded innovative FUEL10K breakfast into UK retailers. In 2021, FUEL10K became the first BCorps breakfast brand on UK shelves. In October 2023, after 12 years in the trenches of FMCG he sold FUEL10K to food giant Premier Foods.
Today, Barney is excited about the Future of Food - championing the brands and projects that aim to tackle the issues and opportunities that lie ahead.
From 1st Jan 2026 - Barney welcomes the UK Food and Drink Export Association as a sister community to the Future of Food.
“With this network we strengthen our offering helping Innovators reach beyond UK shorelines and develop new international footprints.”
“I WANT TO ENCOURAGE THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENTREPRENEURS TO CREATE IMPACT FOR THE FUTURE OF FOOD BY PROVIDING THEM WITH A PLATFORM FROM WHICH TO SHINE.”
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Alice Hall
Genius behind the scenes, expert wordsmith and all round ‘couldnt be done without her’ - Alice oversees our Events, Members and Comms.
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Katie Birrell
Years of expert international development experience places Katie perfectly as our Managing Director curating our high impact calendar.
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Paul Abley
Managing the delivery of International Innovation as a civil servant makes Paul the ideal Swiss army knife to support Innovators looking for overseas intros.
OUR HONORARY AMBASSADORS
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Adam Leyland
Editor in Chief at The Grocer magazine.
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Rebecca Oliver-Mooney
Head of Commercial Buying for over 2,000 Co-op stores.
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Yilmaz Erceyes
Chief Marketing Officer and Director at Premier Foods.
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Fiona Fitzpatrick
Hosts the Brand Growth Heroes Podcast & runs Accelerator Programmes.
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Jason Gibb
A food entrepreneur and Founder of the FoodHub community and Bread & Jam.
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Damian Thornton
Managing Director in the European consumer food & beverage team at Piper Sandler.
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Pen Hadow
Pen is an Arctic region explorer, advocate, adventurer and guide.
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Kevin Dorren
Chair of Move Fresh who help brands on logistics and operations.
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Mike Berners-Lee
Professor & best-selling author of ‘There is No Planet B’ and ‘How Bad are Bananas.
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Miranda Ballard
Head of Europe and Global Small to Medium Sized Business at NielsenIQ.
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Henry Dimbleby
The architect of the UK’s National Food Strategy. Co-founder of Bramble Partners.
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Mensun Bound
Maritime archaeologist who led to the rediscovery of the Endurance.
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Douglas Lamont
CEO at Tony’s Chocolonely, joining in October 2022 from innocent drinks where he was CEO for nine years. A passionate advocate for business as a force for good; he co-chairs The Better Business Act.
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Nicola Waller
Buying Director at Ocado Retail responsible for >55% of Grocery purchases. Previously front line of food innovation at M&S & leads the strategy as Director of Food and Selfridges.
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Ed Devlin
Financial Editor at The Grocer magazine. Ed is omnipresent across all things Food covering financial activity from fundraising and M&A to annual results and key movers and shakers.
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Thea Alexander
CEO of YF, the leading consultancy for high growth FMCG brands in the UK and abroad. is widely considered the ‘voice of the FMCG challenger community,’ championing branded innovation in the market.
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Phil Hails-Smith
Partner at Commercial Law firm, Joelson. He advises on mergers, acquisitions and commercial contracts across diverse sectors, acting for buyers, sellers and management teams in PE and VC-backed businesses.
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Vicky Grinnell-Wright
Director and Lead on Food Tech at Lloyds Corporate and Institutional. With extensive experience at the intersection of finance and food technologies, Vicky leads initiatives that drive innovation to deliver greater resilience within the food system.
OUR OFFICIAL NOMINATOR COMMUNITY
Rupert Welchman
Nick Green
Genevieve Fitch
Charlie Beevor
Mitch Lee
Phil Hails-Smith
Tim Chater
Thea Alexander
Radim Malinic
Rupert Welchman Nick Green Genevieve Fitch Charlie Beevor Mitch Lee Phil Hails-Smith Tim Chater Thea Alexander Radim Malinic
Louise Forster
James Farrow
Fiona Fitzpatrick
Miranda Ballard
Mike Berners-Lee
Anya Claxton
Linley Lewis
Louise Forster James Farrow Fiona Fitzpatrick Miranda Ballard Mike Berners-Lee Anya Claxton Linley Lewis
Nic Waller
Vicky Grinnel-Wright
Lara Darnett
Ollie Pinder
Perry Hayden-Taylor
Jason Gibb
Tortie Farrand
Nic Waller Vicky Grinnel-Wright Lara Darnett Ollie Pinder Perry Hayden-Taylor Jason Gibb Tortie Farrand
Giles Brook
Chris Mitchell
George Dean
Louis Bedwell
Paul Abley
Duncan Robertson
Alan Barratt
Laura Harnett
Fergus O'Sullivan
Sophie Luck
Seb Munden
Giles Brook Chris Mitchell George Dean Louis Bedwell Paul Abley Duncan Robertson Alan Barratt Laura Harnett Fergus O'Sullivan Sophie Luck Seb Munden
OUR 2025 SUPPORTERS - A BIG THANK YOU
TRUSTED BY INDUSTRY LEADERS & GLOBAL PARTNERS
This event is intended to be entirely free to enter and attend to encourage accessibility for all. Event funds and prize money has been donated through philanthropic means. We are, however, extremely grateful for the continued support of the following outstanding supporting businesses.
If you or your company would like to join our journey in some way, please contact us here
