AND THAT’S A WRAP!
2024
FINALISTS &
WINNERS
CONGRATULATIONS & SEE YOU NEXT YEAR - 27th November 2025!
Meet the 16 finalists who WOWed the judges and celebrate the Gold, Silver, and Bronze winners who took the spotlight!
The Future of Food 2024 was an extraordinary showcase of creativity, collaboration, and forward-thinking solutions.
This year’s finalists brought their A-game, presenting bold ideas that could redefine industries and address some of the world’s biggest challenges.
From innovative technologies to ground-breaking sustainable practices, these finalists made us believe in a brighter, tastier, and more sustainable tomorrow. After an exhilarating day of pitches and discussions, our expert judges crowned the winners who stood out for their vision, execution and potential impact.
MEET THE 2024 JUDGES
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Adam Leyland
Editor in Chief at The Grocer magazine. Adam makes frequent appearances on TV and radio and regularly hosts conferences, webinars and hosts the infamous Grocer Gold Awards.
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Rebecca Oliver-Mooney
Head of Commercial Buying for over 2,000 Co-op supermarket stores covering Drinks, Frozen & Community Buying & leads the incubator programme known as ‘The Apiary’.
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Yilmaz Erceyes
Chief Marketing Officer and Director at Premier Foods, managing a portfolio of brands with revenues of over £1bn. Named as one of the UK’s leading marketers by Marketing week.
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Fiona Fitzpatrick
With 25 years experience in hugely successful Food brands like Gu Puds, Chobani and Strong Roots. She 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, a festival that shakes up the way the food and drink industry works and celebrates the entrepreneurial spirit.
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Damian Thornton
Managing Director in the European consumer food & beverage team at Piper Sandler. For over 30 years, he has advised on a wide variety of M&A deals for major corporate clients and fast growing brands.
CONGRATULATIONS
AND THE 2024
WINNER WAS…
Congratulations!
Congratulations!
NICE RICE
IMPACT SOURCING;
SUSTAINABLE RICE; CUT EMISSIONS
Fergus O’Sullivan, founder of Nice Rice, is revolutionising the UK rice market with the country’s only sustainably farmed rice.
Launched in May 2023, Nice Rice has secured listings in Waitrose, Ocado, and independent stores.
The company focuses on reducing the rice industry’s massive greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable practices like Alternate Wetting & Drying (AWD) while ensuring premium quality. With multiple Great Taste Awards and a B-Corp certification, Fergus’s mission is to scale the environmental impact of Nice Rice and inspire the entire rice industry to follow suit.
SILVER WINNER
SEEP
PLASTIC-FREE FUTURE; REDUCED WASTE; LESS CARBON
Seep, Europe’s leading plastic-free cleaning tool brand, is on a mission to eliminate 1 billion plastic items from landfills by 2030. Founded by retail veteran Laura Harnett, Seep has gained a strong market presence since its 2020 launch, with standout retail partnerships, including Tesco’s Accelerator Scheme.
Seep’s products reduce waste, carbon footprint, and microplastics that affect our health and the environment. Now, Seep aims to tackle food waste too by transforming food by-products like corn husks and nut shells into biodegradable, plastic-free scourers, building on its eco-friendly product line and promoting a sustainable future.
BRONZE WINNER
DOGTOOTH
AI & AUTOMATION; SUSTAINABLE FARMING; ROBOTIC LABOUR
Dr Duncan Robertson, Founder & CEO of Dogtooth Technologies, leads a pioneering team that has spent eight years developing robots capable of harvesting delicate berry fruits as effectively as human pickers.
Dogtooth has used advanced AI to unlock relatively low-cost robotic hardware, creating harvesting robots with visual acuity and dexterity comparable with people. Now, with 70 robots deployed globally and significant customer interest, Dogtooth is scaling its operations.
Their technology addresses the critical labour shortages in horticulture while ensuring efficient, sustainable farming practices that benefit both growers and the environment.
MEET THE 16 FINALISTS
Get to know the trailblazers behind the ideas. Each finalist was selected for their ingenuity, dedication, and ability to shape the future:
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SYLT PICKLING
REDUCED WASTE; SCRATCH COOKING; GUT HEALTH
Aslak Ringhus & Temi Olugbenga co-founded Sylt Pickling in 2020, and now, Sylt is ready to take on the Future of Food Competition with unmatched passion! With a revolutionary mission to make pickling fun, accessible and eco-friendly, Sylt Pickling’s innovative ready-to-use pickling liquids have already made waves, earning prestigious Great Taste & Nourish Awards and being stocked in Selfridges.
Their vision is clear: transform pickling from an outdated chore into a flavourful, easy and experimental culinary adventure, all while fighting food waste. Sylt Pickling is set to disrupt the food world and the future has never tasted better!the food world, and the future has never tasted better!
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TEAM BEAN!
PLANT BASED; HEALTHY CONVENIENCE; SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS
Bold Bean Co is on a mission to make you ‘bean’ obsessed because they are a key ingredient in tackling climate change, soil health and promoting sustainable and healthy food systems.
Since its launch in 2021, Bold Bean Co has expanded rapidly, securing stockists like Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, and Ocado building a cult-like following of bean lovers eating their quality beans straight from the jar.
After seeing the impact of their bestselling cookbook, Bold Beans, on encouraging bean-eating they’re taking the next step with a children’s book. Aiming to inspire children to embrace beans from a young age, this book promises to shape lifelong healthy eating habits through the power of beans.
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FERMTECH
SUSTAINABLE PROTEINS; LESS CARBON; PLANT BASED
Andy Clayton, founder of Fermtech, is driven by a belief that biology can solve the climate crisis. Fermtech has pioneered a sustainable, scalable system for producing protein using an innovative twist on koji fermentation.
By replacing traditional inputs like rice with spent grains from breweries, Fermtech creates protein ingredients with a lower carbon footprint than plant-based proteins.
Their protein is not only cost-effective and highly nutritious but also enhances flavours without the need for costly additives. With successful trials and growing excitement from food producers, Fermtech is set to scale up production!
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![MORE TODDLER MEALS]()
MORE TODDLER MEALS
FREEZE DRY TECHNOLOGY; HEALTHY CONVENIENCE; SUSTAINABLE MEALS
Ed van der Lande, founder of More Toddler Meals, is on a mission to bridge the gap in the toddler food market. Inspired during his Army deployment in Somalia, Ed created meals that combine the convenience of ambient food with the quality of fresh options, using innovative freeze-dried technology.
His meals, designed for busy parents, are nutritious, tasty, and practical on the go. With recognition from industry experts and ambitious plans for scaling, Ed aims to make healthy eating more accessible to all families, while tackling the issue of early childhood obesity.
With space tourism on the near horizon, a collab with a kid’s spacesuit brand could be the perfect fit!
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![ROBUSTA REVOLUTIONARIES]()
ROBUSTA REVOLUTIONARIES
IMPACT SOURCING; SUSTAINABLE COFFEE; CHAMPIONING ROBUSTA
Blue Turaco Coffee, founded by Wycliffe Sande, is on a mission to transform the perception of Robusta coffee and improve the lives of Ugandan farmers. By focusing on specialty-grade Robusta, Blue Turaco challenges the Arabica-dominated coffee market and promotes sustainable practices.
Their innovative approach, which includes buying direct from farmers and using eco-friendly methods, not only increases farmer incomes but also offers coffee lovers a bold, distinct flavour with twice the caffeine.
Blue Turaco aims to expand its impact by reaching 3,000 farms and supporting coffee-growing communities by 2027.
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![NO MORE LIDS!]()
NO MORE LIDS!
PLASTIC-FREE FUTURE; REDUCED WASTE; RECYCLABLE
No More Lids was founded to address the growing concern over single-use plastic waste in the hospitality industry.
With nearly 30 years of experience, MD Chris saw firsthand the environmental impact of disposable lids and plastic/PLA lined cups and set out to make a difference. Enter The Good Cup, an innovative cup with an integrated, foldable lid that reduces single use plastic waste by over 99.5%. Made from FSC-certified paper with an aqueous lining, it’s compostable, recyclable, and biodegradable within six months.
The Good Cup also conserves energy in production, saves 40% space and offers a cost-effective, sustainable solution that fits seamlessly into existing service setups, supporting a plastic-free future.
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![REMY]()
REMY
AI & AUTOMATION; REDUCED WASTE; CUT EMISSIONS
Jake and Conrad, co-founders of Remy, created the app to tackle household food waste after experiencing firsthand how easy it is to waste food. Remy is a smart kitchen management app that effortlessly helps users understand what’s in their kitchen, when it expires, and how they can use it while offering the option to buy what’s missing — directly from their smartphones. Leveraging AI and automation, Remy helps users save time and money, reduce food waste, and cut emissions. The app also provides critical Scope 3 emissions data for retailers and FMCGs, aligning with UN SDGs and driving sustainable food practices across Europe.
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![SEEP – NOT SCOURING THE EARTH!]()
SEEP – NOT SCOURING THE EARTH!
PLASTIC-FREE FUTURE; REDUCED WASTE; LESS CARBON
Seep, Europe’s leading plastic-free cleaning tool brand, is on a mission to eliminate 1 billion plastic items from landfills by 2030. Founded by retail veteran Laura Harnett, Seep has gained a strong market presence since its 2020 launch, with standout retail partnerships, including Tesco’s Accelerator Scheme. With £1.75M in annual revenue and 70% YoY growth, Seep’s products reduce waste, carbon footprint, and microplastics that affect our health and the environment. Now, Seep aims to tackle food waste too by transforming food by-products like corn husks and nut shells into biodegradable, plastic-free scourers, building on its eco-friendly product line and promoting a sustainable future.
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![SMOOTHIE OPERATORS]()
SMOOTHIE OPERATORS
REDUCED WASTE; HEALTHY CONVENIENCE; IMPACT SOURCING
Love Struck, founded by Richard Canterbury, began selling smoothies at Borough Market in 2004 and has since grown into an multi award-winning brand, selling nearly 20 million smoothies across 17 countries last year. They are on a mission to combat food waste, particularly fruit and vegetables of which 40% - 50% are lost or wasted globally each year. Their perfectly portioned frozen to ‘fresh’ fixes are ready in an instant with no fuss, mess or food waste. With strong social media growth and high-profile foodservice clients, Love Struck is now set to explode into retail in the UK and the US market.
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![SHOOT FARM]()
SHOOT FARM
AI & AUTOMATIONS; SUSTAINABLE FARMING; ROBOTIC LABOUR
By 2050, nearly 70% of people will live in urban areas, often disconnected from farmland. Climate threats, supply chain issues and renewable energy expansion present unique challenges and opportunities. Shoot Farm’s solution? Decentralised vertical farming: scalable, controlled environments producing fresh crops year-round near cities, using renewable energy. With modular designs adaptable globally, these farms support local economies, minimise waste and provide nutritious, customised produce. Our operational system boasts rapid payback and transformative potential. For space, a 16.33kg kit could yield 2.6 tonnes of annual produce. Award-winning flavours and rapid demand demonstrate our success, driving us towards global, sustainable, fresh food solutions.
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![FERmeNTATION]()
FERmeNTATION
GUT HEALTH; SUGAR REDUCTION; FUNCTIONAL FOODS
Founded by Jonny Wilkinson and Tim Lennox, One Living is a wellbeing brand dedicated to improving gut and mental health through functional drinks.
As the UK’s second-largest kombucha brand, they’ve pioneered products like gut health shots and CBD drinks, all authentically produced and using natural ingredients. Jonny’s personal journey with mental health fuels their mission to help others.
Their pitch introduces an exciting “Smart Kilner Jar” for home fermentation, paired with microbiome testing, to create personalized fermented tonics tailored to individual gut-brain axis needs— combining ancient fermentation with cutting-edge technology.
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![DOGTOOTH]()
DOGTOOTH
AI & AUTOMATION; SUSTAINABLE FARMING; ROBOTIC LABOUR
Dr Duncan Robertson, Founder & CEO of Dogtooth Technologies, leads a pioneering team that has spent eight years developing robots capable of harvesting delicate berry fruits as effectively as human pickers.
Dogtooth has used advanced AI to unlock relatively low-cost robotic hardware, creating harvesting robots with visual acuity and dexterity comparable with people. Now, with 70 robots deployed globally and significant customer interest, Dogtooth is scaling its operations.
Their technology addresses the critical labour shortages in horticulture while ensuring efficient, sustainable farming practices that benefit both growers and the environment.
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![FOODIO FAMILY]()
FOODIO FAMILY
HEALTHY CONVENIENCE; SUGAR REDUCTION CONFECTIONARY PIONEERS
Jag and Nirali Mankodi are the founders of Superfoodio, a brand committed to offering better-for-you snacks to combat the growing problem of ultra-processed foods dominating the market.
With a focus on simple, natural ingredients, their innovative snacks fill the gap in the booming $116 billion global healthy snack market. Superfoodio’s Peanut Butter Buttons have sold over 3 million units and helped remove millions of grams of refined sugar from UK diets.
Their proprietary manufacturing process and scalable distribution model have secured partnerships with national retailers, positioning them for significant growth while leading a health-focused food revolution.
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![XOXO SODA]()
XOXO SODA
HEALTHY CONVENIENCE; SUGAR REDUCTION; FUNCTIONAL FOODS
Rory, co-founder of XOXO Soda, leads a revolution in the soft drinks category with a brand that’s built for the future of food. Launched in May 2023, XOXO is not only challenging the dominance of sugar-laden, outdated soft drinks, but also addressing key consumer shifts towards healthier, functional beverages. With bold flavours and 6g of gut-friendly prebiotic fibre per can, XOXO is designed for the health-conscious Gen Z and millennial market.
In just over a year, they’ve secured 4,500 POS across Europe and the UK, raised two major rounds of investments from industry titans like JamJar (Innocent Founders), the Doehler Group, GGF ventures and hit a multimillion-pound run-rate within its first 12 months, positioning themselves as the next big disruptor in the drinks industry. XOXO is driving the future of soft drinks with real functional benefits and its bold appealing taste.
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![SUN BEAR BIOFUTURE]()
SUN BEAR BIOFUTURE
CUT EMISSIONS; REDUCE CARBON; ALTERNATIVE PALM OIL
Inspired by volunteering at the Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre, Ben Wilding co-founded Sun Bear Biofuture to tackle the destructive impact of palm oil production.
Palm oil, responsible for over half a billion tonnes of carbon emissions and biodiversity loss, is found in 50% of supermarket products. Sun Bear Biofuture uses genetically engineered yeast to produce sustainable, alternative oils, requiring 90% less land and generating 90% fewer emissions than palm oil. With rapid scaling to 1,000L fermentations and a 100,000L demo plant planned, we aim to disrupt the $270bn vegetable oil market.
Our patented yeast strains will drive global adoption, with 30 plants targeted by 2032, reducing carbon by 10m tonnes annually.
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![NICE RICE]()
Nice Rice
IMPACT SOURCING; SUSTAINABLE RICE; CUT EMISSIONS
Fergus O’Sullivan, founder of Nice Rice, is revolutionising the UK rice market with the country’s only sustainably farmed rice.
Launched in May 2023, Nice Rice has secured listings in Waitrose, Ocado, and independent stores.
The company focuses on reducing the rice industry’s massive greenhouse gas emissions through sustainable practices like Alternate Wetting & Drying (AWD) while ensuring premium quality. With multiple Great Taste Awards and a B-Corp certification, Fergus’s mission is to scale the environmental impact of Nice Rice and inspire the entire rice industry to follow suit.
2024 SCHEDULE
Pre-view for Judges and VIPs
11:00
Registration for Attendees & Networking in the Ondaatje Theatre
12:00
14:00
Meet the Finalists
Klaxon Rings Everyone to the Theatre
12:45
Welcome by Barney & Meet the Judges
13:00
Mike Berners-Lee – Author of There Is No Planet B and Professor at Lancaster University
13:10
Pen Hadow – Arctic Record Breaker and Conservationist of Seas and Wildlife
13:30
Kevin Dorren – Chair of D2C Move Fresh and Specialist in AI & Shifting Populations
13:45
16:00
Judges’ Summation
Attendees Circulate Pitch Tables
14:30
Klaxon Rings Everyone Back to the Theatre; Popular Vote Delivered to Judges
15:30
Miranda Ballard – Leads Small & Medium-Sized Business Teams Across West Europe at NielsenIQ
15:45
Gold, Silver, and Bronze Announced; Prizes Awarded
16:45
It’s a Wrap!
17:00
THE 2024
EXPERIENCED
VISIONARIES
EXPERT INTRODUCTIONS
Invaluable insights and expertise from our esteemed keynote speakers of 2024, who helped set the scene with their own experiences. These visionaries delved into their perspectives on the Future of Food, offering unique inspiring discussions.
PEN HADOW
The Explorer
Pen is an Arctic region explorer, advocate, adventurer and guide. He is the only person to have trekked solo, and without resupply by third parties, from Canada to the Geographic North Pole - in an immersion suit.
He led ‘Arctic Mission’, which became the first boat expedition without icebreakers to sail into the ice-free international waters surrounding the North Pole.
Its pioneering research into the wildlife, ecosystem, and marine pollution of these waters was cited in the US Senate to introduce the 'Save Our Seas Act'.
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.
MIKE BERNERS-LEE
The Academic
Mike is the best-selling author of ‘There is No Planet B’ and ‘How Bad are Bananas? The Carbon Footprint of Everything’. He also contributed to Greta Thunberg’s ‘The Climate Book’.
As Director of Small World Consulting Ltd, he works with both the public and private sector to push for the systemic changes we need to see for a sustainable future.
As a professor at Lancaster University, his research includes supply chain carbon modelling, sustainable food systems and the environmental impact of ICT.
Mike promotes public awareness of sustainability and climate change issues.
KEVIN DORREN
The Technologist
Kevin is the chair of Move Fresh who help brands on logistics and operations with clients such as Brewdog and Diet Chef.
He is the cofounder of Parsley Box, a D2C business supporting senior living in the UK.
He has been involved in FMCG since 2005 and has co-founded a number of technology businesses included TVsquared (sold to Innovid for $160m in 2022).
Kevin specialises in startups, fundraising and consumer marketing. He brings great insight on aging populations and the use of AI in the DTC sector.
A huge congratulations to all finalists and winners for their remarkable achievements.
Your passion and creativity inspire us all to think differently, act boldly, and dream bigger.
WANT TO RELIVE THE MAGIC?
Explore the moments that made this year’s Future of Food unforgettable.
Scroll through our image gallery below to revisit the highlights, meet the finalists, and celebrate the winners.
