THE FUTURE
OF FOOD IS HERE
Discover the VISIONARIES shaping tomorrow's food landscape.
19 November 2026
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 ·
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
Provenance: Storytelling and local sourcing
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Technology
Data analytics: blockchain traceability
Emerging tech & AI: food apps and tools
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Circularity
Circular economy: repair, renew, recycle
Plastic reduction: reduce, compostable packaging
Food waste reduction
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Equity
Consumer education: promoting sustainable diets and sustainability
Food access: urban food banks, community projects
Staff: equality, support and capability
ENTRIES CAN FIT INTO ONE OR SOME OF THESE CATEGORIES:
MEET OUR 2026 JUDGES
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Seb Munden
Head Judge. Chair of WRAP and former CEO of Unilever UK & Ireland. A founding signatory of the UK Plastics Pact, he brings 30+ years in FMCG, sustainability and the circular economy.
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Jacqui Parr
Editor of thegrocer.co.uk, with 25+ years in specialist journalism. Previously launched Grocery Gazette at Retail Gazette. A leading authority on UK grocery, FMCG innovation and food industry trends.
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George Dean
CCO at Ocado Retail, leading buying, product, sustainability and commercial development. A former Bain consultant raised on a Cambridgeshire arable farm, he brings strategy, retail innovation and agricultural roots in equal measure.
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Vicky Grinnell-Wright
Director and Food Tech lead at Lloyds C&I Banking. She structures financial solutions that scale emerging food technologies, helping build a more resilient, equitable, healthy and sustainable food system.
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Paul Chiappe
Managing Partner and Co-Head of Corporate & Commercial at Joelson LLP. With 20+ years advising on M&A and venture capital, he backs founder-led brands including BOL Foods, Deliveroo and Tails.com.
HEAR FROM THE
EXPERIENCED VISIONARIES
2026 EXPERTS SET THE SCENE
Join us as these visionaries delve into their perspectives on the Future of Food, offering unique inspiring discussions.
HENRY DIMBLEBY
Blue Skies
Heads up our new Blue Skies Award category - for ideas that haven't launched yet but could change everything.
Few people are better placed to spot them.
A vanguard of food-system reform, Henry co-founded and exited LEON restaurant chain. He went on to author the UK's National Food Strategy - shaping policy on obesity, food security and environmental restoration.
He now runs Bramble Partners, investing in the founders fixing the system from the inside and advising companies, governments and NGOs on how to get there faster.
His 2023 bestseller Ravenous set out the case for change. Now he's looking for the ideas brave enough to deliver it.
MIRANDA BALLARD
Data Defines
Miranda Ballard has lived every side of the food industry. She’s been there and done it. She founded gourmet meat brand Muddy Boots, ran London butcher's shop and wrote five cookbooks along the way.
Today she leads NielsenIQ's Small & Medium Business teams across West Europe, championing the challenger brands she once was.
At Future of Food, once again in her unique and brilliant style, she'll use NIQ's data - the most authoritative read on what UK shoppers actually buy - to show what trends are leading on the shelves and what the numbers tell us about where growth is really coming from.
"31% of the growth from Small & Medium Businesses in UK retailers last year came from just a handful of brands."
Chris Mitchell
Future Panel
Partner at Bramble - the sharpest and most experienced and respected investment and intelligence firm in the food system - hosts our panel on the forces rewriting the food rules.
Few people read the signals as cleanly as Chris and he'll push our experts on the three shifts every founder needs to reckon with:
1 The GLP-1 demand shock pulling calories out of the basket
2 The leap from "less bad" to genuinely positive nutrition — protein, fibre, the microbiome
3 AI as the new calculus of biology.
It's exactly the frame the Competition needs. These are the currents our finalists are already riding and Chris is the one to chart them.
OLLIE LLOYD
Future Restaurants
Ollie Lloyd is heading up our new Future Restaurants Award. As Head of Innovation at Hotpickle - the UK’s leading food and drink brand experience and innovation agency - he is a pioneering figure in the sector.
Founder of Great British Chefs (2010–2019), he created one of the country’s top platforms connecting chefs, recipes and culinary innovation. A passionate advocate for British cooking, food culture and storytelling, Ollie previously served as Head of Client Solutions at Hearst UK. He also co-organises the annual Great Chefs Dinner for the NSPCC, which has raised over £2m for Childline.
With deep marketing expertise, he continues to champion food innovation through podcasting, advisory work and digital trends.
BOOKINGS NOW
OPEN
TO ATTEND THE
FUTURE OF FOOD 2026
Thursday 19th November 2026
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 19 November 2026 (12-5pm)
🎟️ Free to enter & attend!
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 25 Sept 2026. 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 19 Nov, 2026. 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.
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 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 2026 - you must complete the entry by 25th Sept 2026. 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 25th September 2026
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 19th 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
· Discretionary other prizes from industry supporters and retailers may be provided too
Bronze
· A Future of Food 3rd Place Gong
· Discretionary other prizes from industry supporters and retailers may be provided too
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 19th 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.
