Women in the Food Industry Co-Founder Mex Ibrahim Wins Woman of the Year in debut Women In Food & Drink Awards 2026

The winners of the brand new Women in Food & Drink Awards were announced at a glittering awards ceremony held at London Hilton Bankside on 6th May 2026, hosted by Andi Oliver. They set out to celebrate excellence and amplify the visibility of women making a difference at every stage of the food and drink supply chain.

The awards saw over 1,800 nominations and 290 people and organisations made the shortlist with 42 expert judges having  the hard task of selecting 38 winners!  We are delighted that our co-founder Mex Ibrahim, won the Woman of the Year – Sales and Communication category.

While there have been great strides towards more inclusive and diverse sectors in food and drink, there is still much progress to be made in addressing challenges like the gender pay gap, career progression, and increasing the representation of women in leadership roles. Women who have broken through these barriers serve as role models for future generations, yet we acknowledge that there are still too few in top positions and the awards set out to shine a spotlight on women across the industry on an industry wide platform for recognition and promoting fair representation, and encouraging leadership progression.

The Women & Food and Drinks Awards organisers said: “Championing visibility, connection and opportunity, Mex Ibrahim has become a powerful force for change across the food industry. As Co-Founder of Women In The Food Industry, she has built a national platform supporting women through mentorship, events, and accessible resources that drive real career progression. Judges praised her tireless advocacy, sector-wide influence, and commitment to representation, embodied in her mantra “you can’t be what you can’t see.” With multiple industry awards recognising her impact, Mex’s work is opening doors and shaping a more inclusive future, making her a truly worthy and inspiring winner.”

Mex said: “Even being nominated as Woman of the Year in this category was incredibly meaningful.  I was delighted to win this category and also be a media partner for these inaugural awards. They reflect the heart of why we created Women in the Food Industry — to support, connect and champion people across our sector. I’m proud to help create spaces where everyone feels seen, valued and able to thrive.”

Mex continued: “I’m incredibly proud to receive the Woman of the Year – Sales & Communications award because it recognises the power of visibility, storytelling and connection in creating real change across our industry. Throughout my career, I’ve believed that communications should do more than simply promote products or businesses – it should amplify people and in doing that open doors and help build a more inclusive food sector for future generations.

Through Women in The Food Industry, I’ve worked to ensure women’s voices, achievements and experiences are seen and heard, while creating opportunities for meaningful career progression and support networks. To be recognised by the judges in a category that celebrates influence, advocacy and communication is especially meaningful to me, because it reflects the heart of everything I care about professionally and personally.

I hope this award also shines a light on the importance of representation across the food and drink industry – because when people can see others like themselves succeeding, it gives them permission to believe they can too.”

In November 2025 at  The Staff Canteen Awards the Hospitality Hero award was presented to Mex Ibrahim, for her continued advocacy of diversity, inclusion and equal opportunity across hospitality.  In 2025 those awards saw over 300 nominations across eight categories and more than 52,000 votes cast by The Staff Canteen’s members and social media followers – the biggest response yet.

Also in  September 2025 our co-founder, Mex Ibrahim, was awarded the DEI Champion Award at the Speciality & Fine Food Fair. This award recognises a business or individual that has championed diversity, equity and inclusion, transformed their operations, and made a lasting positive impact on the industry. Winners are selected by a panel of experts and ambassadors, not by nomination, making this recognition particularly meaningful.

These honours are not just for us but for our whole community – the inspiring women and allies who continue to shape a more inclusive and representative food & drink sector.

We would like to thank ALL the great women who make up our community and give each other strength, support and confidence at our regular in person networking events.