Organic September Panel : Building Successful Healthy Food Brands – 14th September 2026

What does it really take to build a successful food brand in today’s rapidly evolving healthy food market?

To celebrate Organic September, join Women in the Food Industry and gain insights from an inspiring panel of founders and food industry leaders to explore the opportunities, challenges and commercial realities of building brands around organic, healthy, free-from and purpose-led food.

Whether you’re already running an organic or healthy food business, developing your next product, considering certification or looking to break into retail, this evening will provide practical insights, honest experiences and valuable connections to help you move your business forward.

What We’ll Explore

The conversation will go beyond organic certification to look at the bigger picture of building a successful healthy food brand.

Meet our panellists

Elin Roberts — Co-Founder, Better Nature

Elin is co-founder of Better Nature, a pioneering brand helping to bring tempeh and fermented foods to a wider audience. She’ll share insights into innovation, consumer education and building a purpose-driven food brand in a competitive category.

Julianne Ponan MBE — Founder, Creative Nature

Julianne is the founder of Creative Nature, a leading free-from brand, and a passionate advocate for better food choices and allergen awareness. She’ll bring her experience of building a successful free-from business and the changing expectations of today’s consumers.

Tara Taylor — Founder, Good Grain Bakery

Tara has built Good Grain Bakery around the belief that healthier food doesn’t have to compromise on taste or enjoyment. She’ll share her experience of building a bakery business and navigating the opportunities and challenges of the health-focused food market.

Jade Hoai is the Executive Leader of Purchasing at Whole Foods Market UK. She brings over 17 years of experience in retail and operations to the forefront of grocery innovation. Her passion lies in building thoughtful, strategic supplier relationships and shaping product assortments that reflect the guiding values of customers – quality, sustainability, and transparency.

At Whole Foods Market, she leads the UK Purchasing team in developing compelling private label and promotional strategies, curating seasonal and regional ranges, and championing emerging brands. She is focused on elevating the customer experience through conscious sourcing and operational excellence.

Hosted by Mex Ibrahim – Co-founder of Women in the Food Industry a non-profit advancing equality and inclusion across the sector. With expertise in sustainability, entrepreneurship, and ethical eating, she is a trustee of School Food Matters and advisory board member of New Food Magazine. In 2025 she was winner of the Speciality & Fine Food Fair DEI Champion Award and voted The Staff Canteen’s Hospitality Hero.

Watch this space for more panellists to be announced.

What to Expect

• Real-world insights from industry leaders
• Honest founder stories — including successes, challenges and lessons learned
• Practical advice for growing your food business
• An inside look at what food retailers are looking for
• Insights into organic, free-from, functional and purpose-led food
• Discussion around B Corp and other certifications and accreditations
• A lively audience Q&A
• Networking with food founders, entrepreneurs, buyers and industry professionals
• Ideas and actionable takeaways you can apply to your own business
• Light refreshments included

FIND OUT MORE ABOUT THE PANELLISTS AND BOOK YOUR ORGANIC SEPTEMBER TICKETS HERE.