THE FUTURE
OF FOOD IS HERE
Discover the VISIONARIES shaping tomorrow's food landscape.
OUR WORLD IS CHANGING
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WITNESS THE FUTURE OF FOOD
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OUR WORLD IS CHANGING · WITNESS THE FUTURE OF FOOD ·
Nice Rice wins in 2024
THE ‘FUTURE OF FOOD’ IS A COMPETITION
FOR FOOD ENTREPRENEURS
SHAPING TOMORROW'S FUTURE
FOR BIZ FOODIES
Open to any food related entrepreneurs. Ideally Seed to Series A with UK interest but anyone welcome.
PITCH YOUR IDEA
Submit your innovative concept that benefits the megatrends around us - in just 500 words.
WIN PRIZES
Finalists pitch to win generous industry support and prizes in front of key Food Industry luminaries.
JOIN THE DEBATE
With an audience of entrepreneurs, investors, buyers, manufacturers and journalists.
THE BRIEF
THE GAUNTLET HAS BEEN
THROWN DOWN TO THE FOOD INDUSTRY…
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
Entrepreneurial minds are invited to unleash their creativity and propose their innovative ideas, processes or packaging formats that align with future megatrends, our five focused transition themes below and that might also contribute to the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals.
The food industry is counting on your insights and imagination to ensure that they stay ahead of the game and meet people’s needs - the needs of the future.
THINK DRAGON’S DEN MEETS TEDX TALKS MEETS MODEL UN!
OUR 5 FOCUSED TRANSITION THEMES
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Health
Nutrition: nutrient dense, low GHG foods
Reformulation: healthier additives, reduced HFSS
Personalisation: tailored dietary solutions
Obesity: appetite regulation and weight management
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Production
Precision Agriculture: tech driven farming
Alternative/Regenerative Production: sustainable methods
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Technology
Data analytics: blockchain traceability
Emerging tech: food apps and tools
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Waste
Circular economy: repair, renew, recycle
Plastic reduction: reduce, compostable packaging
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Equity
Consumer education: promoting sustainable diets and sustainability
Food access: urban food banks, community projects
ENTRIES CAN FIT INTO ONE OR SOME OF THESE CATEGORIES:
BOOK NOW
TO ATTEND THE
FUTURE OF FOOD 2025
Thursday 27th November 2025
Doors close at 12.45pm.
Secure your seat to attend the Final Event at the Royal Geographical Society, London.
Networking begins at 12:00pm and the event finishes at 17.00pm.
To attend, each person must register individually using the below Eventbrite form.
WITNESS FIRST HAND AND HAVE A SAY WHO SHOULD WIN
£10,000!
JOIN IN ON
THE DEBATE
AT THE FINAL PITCH
THE FINAL EVENT
Join us for an exciting afternoon at the prestigious Royal Geographical Society in London.
Experience engaging pitches from the finalists, insightful feedback from our expert judging panel, and enlightening keynote introductions from people with first hand experience of change. Network with fellow entrepreneurs, investors, experts, and media to spark new collaborations and ideas. Free to attend – register below!
📍 Royal Geographical Society
📆 Thursday 27th November 2025 (12-5pm)
🎟️ Free to enter & attend!
HEAR FROM
EXPERIENCED
VISIONARIES
2025 EXPERT INTRODUCTIONS
Gain exclusive access to invaluable insights and expertise from our esteemed keynote speakers, who will set the scene with their own experiences. Join us as these visionaries delve into their perspectives on the Future of Food, offering unique inspiring discussions.
HENRY DIMBLEBY
The Food System
Henry is a vanguard in food system reform. Exited co-founder of the acclaimed Leon restaurant chain, he’s driven by a passion for sustainable, healthy eating.
As the architect of the UK’s National Food Strategy, Dimbleby has shaped policies to tackle obesity, enhance food security and promote environmental restoration.
He is now the co-founder and Managing Partner of Bramble Partners, which invests in food businesses which are playing an active role in fixing the system and advises companies, governments, and NGOs on how to accelerate us towards a healthier and more sustainable system.
His 2023 bestseller, Ravenous: How to Get Ourselves and Our Planet into Shape, critiques modern diets and offers bold solutions. A dynamic advocate, he’ll inspire competition entrants to rethink food’s future with purpose and innovation.
MIRANDA BALLARD
The Analyst
Miranda leads the Small & Medium Size Business teams across West Europe at NielsenIQ - the world’s leading consumer intelligence company, delivering the most complete understanding of consumer buying behavior and revealing new pathways to growth.
She has been a butcher, an author, and a former food company founder.
She'll use the data to show the value and impact of Future of Food ideas that have made it to our shelves already.
She is hyper passionate to inspire the next generation of food brands and can see in the data how important they are:
“31% of the growth from Small & Medium Businesses in the UK retailers last year came from just a handful of brands.”
ANDY CATO
The Farmer
Andy, co-founder of Wildfarmed, is a visionary, blending music and regenerative agriculture.
Known as one-half of the Grammy-nominated duo Groove Armada, Cato traded the stage for the soil after a revelation about industrial food systems. Selling his music rights to buy a farm in France, the stark reality of degraded soils led to a decade of trial and error to find ways of growing food whilst restoring soil health and biodiversity.
Now back in the UK , farming as a tenant of the National Trust , Andy and the Wildfarmed team partner with over 150 farmers to grow regenerative cereals, producing nutrient rich food from nature rich fields.
A speaker at this year’s Future of Food, Cato will set the scene from a farming point of view; how food production depends on nature restoration rather than being in conflict with it , and how to make quality good from nature rich landscapes a commercial reality.
MENSUN BOUND
The Explorer
Mensun Bound is a British maritime archaeologist born in Stanley, Falkland Islands. He is best known as director of exploration for two expeditions to the Weddell Sea which led to the rediscovery of the Endurance, in which Sir Ernest Shackleton and a crew of 27 men sailed for the Antarctic on the 1914–1917 Imperial Trans-Antarctic Expedition. The ship sank after being crushed by the ice on 21 November 1915. It was rediscovered by the Endurance22 expedition on 5 March 2022.
Drawing on his extensive experience in maritime archaeology, he emphasizes the critical importance of preserving our ocean heritage and the role of cutting-edge technology in advancing sustainable exploration.
Discovery Channel has called Bound "the Indiana Jones of the Deep".
THE FORMAT
HOW DOES THE COMPETITION WORK?
ROUND 01
Your Future Idea
Submit a 500-word summary of your innovative food concept now - deadline for entries is 26 Sept 2025. All participants are welcome to attend the finalist event for free.
ROUND 02
Prep & Pitch
Finalists will be announced and 16 teams will be invited to present their idea at the Final Event at the RGS 27 Nov, 2025. Each will pitch from their stall as judges and attendees circulate. Winners will win but all will receive a certificate of accomplishment.
THE FINAL
The Final Event
The judges will preside after each finalists 1 minute escalator power pitch to the audience, and a popular vote will also take place. The winning teams will be presented the coveted Future of Food Gong, prizes and much industry applause.
REGISTER NOW
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FREE TO ENTER & ATTEND
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REGISTER NOW · FREE TO ENTER & ATTEND ·
WHO SHOULD ENTER?
This is a unique opportunity for ambitious and creative food industry entrepreneurial minds.
Ideal applicants are entrepreneurs who are already up and running (Seed to Series A) with revenues ranging from £0+ - £20+ million. But entries are open to all sizes.
All entries should be UK based or with a strong UK interest.
The founder/s must attend the event if selected in the final 16.
Winning entries should follow the judging criteria closely demonstrating their plan is both commercially viable, impactful and scalable. We encourage a diverse range of applicants, whether in teams of up to four or as individuals - one entry per team.
MEET THE JUDGES
Supported by our expert speakers and lead by Henry Dimbleby please meet our esteemed judging panel for 2025
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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.
WHY SHOULD YOU ATTEND THE COMPETITION?
It's free to attend: The competition is free to enter and attend, making it accessible to anyone who is interested.
Networking opportunities: The event provides the chance to network with other entrepreneurs, investors, experts, and media professionals. This could lead to new collaborations or ideas for your business.
Learn from industry experts: You can hear from experienced visionaries during keynote introductions. The speakers come from diverse backgrounds and will be sharing their insights on the future of food. You will also have the opportunity to hear pitches from the finalists and gain insights from the judges' feedback.
Witness the Future of Food: The competition aims to shine a spotlight on the challenges and opportunities in the food industry and encourage early thinking for solutions. You can see firsthand the innovative ideas that are being developed to address these challenges.
Enjoy the experience: The final event takes place at the prestigious Royal Geographical Society in London. It will be an exciting afternoon with engaging pitches, insightful feedback, and inspiring discussions.
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
FAQ’S
HAVE QUESTIONS?
WE’VE GOT ANSWERS.
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Entry registrations will open on the 1st June 2025 - you must complete the entry by 26th Sept 2025. Early entries appreciated.
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Round 1 is a short series of questions that will include a bit about you or your company. We then want to hear about your idea and your vision of how it will work. This will be across 3 questions and no longer than 500 words.
Supporting uploads are possible but not essential. The more bespoke the better.
Closing date: Friday 26th September 2025
If you are selected to go forward as a finalist, then you will be invited as an entrant to the final event at the Royal Geographical Society on Thursday 27th November from 11am until 5pm. The space will be available from 8.30am for you to set up.
This leads you to Round 2. This round will require you to present your idea from a 3x3m space in the Great Hall of the RGS. You may use any form of media, prop, costume, dramatisation… to bring your entrepreneurial vision to life. Judges will then circulate and view your pitches.
You will be asked to deliver a 1 minute elevator power pitch from the main stage.
Judges will then decide on the best pitch and the debut winner of ‘Future of Food’ will be crowned and presented with the top prize.
We need to leave the RGS by 5pm.
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This is an entirely FREE event for entrants and attendees. There should be no financial barrier to contribute to such an important theme. Other than the time to prepare, your own pitch decs and your transport to the event, there is no cost.
This event is a not-for-profit event and has been philanthropically supported in its organisation. Notwithstanding supporting companies may be sought to help contribute to the overheads.
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The winner will be awarded a £10,000 grant and a gong for their efforts.
Finalists will each have mentorship to finesse their pitch and get to deliver it to some of the industries most influential stakeholders. We will announce these prizes on Linkedin.
Prizes are at the discretion of the providers subject to the type of ideas and stage the winners my be.
GOLD
· The Future of Food 1st place Glass Gong!
· £10,000 to the winning team
· Various other prizes from industry supporters and retailers may be provided too
Silver
· A Future of Food 2nd Place Gong
· The Future of Food Goodie Bag – stuffed with top-value items!
Bronze
· A Future of Food 3rd Place Gong
· The Future of Food Goodie Bag – stuffed with top-value items!
All finalists will receive a Future of Food Finalist certificate
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In short, you can’t. But much like Dragons' Den, Sharktank or any other pitching event, you are demonstrating how you will deliver an idea, where others may not have the skills, charm or tenacity to do so.
Many ideas are not completely original ideas - perhaps ‘borrowed’ and adjusted. It’s the actual 'doing' that is then the toughest part of all.
If this is not the answer you wanted, then the event may not be for you - however, any positive influence you may have shaping the future of food that you can support - we’d love to have you along.
The idea here is to shine a spotlight on the challenges and opportunities ahead and get early thinking for solutions underway.
Besides, you may be swayed by prize money, the mentoring, a quality audience and a superb venue!
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Doors open for the 16 finalists from 8.30am on the 27th November at the Royal Geographical Society.
Each team will have a 3x3 pitch station with a 5ft table to get ready.
Judges and VIPs will arrive at 11am to peruse the pitch tables. Attendees arrive from 12.00. Doors close at 12.45.
From 1pm sharp, finalists, attendees and judges will meet in the impressive seated auditorium to hear from all the finalists as their present their 1 minute elevator power pitch.
Teams will then man their stations whilst judges and attendees circulate, navigate and listen.
Following this, judges will preside and a popular vote will be cast. The top three teams will be announced.
At 4:45pm, the winner of Future of Food will be heralded with the £10,000 prize grant, a gong and mentioned above. All finalists will receive a certificate and much recognition amongst the food industry.
