Mid April 2026 Newsletter – Women In The Food Industry News & Offers

Women In the Food Industry (WIFI) Newsletter

Our mid April newsletter has news of brand new events for April and May, how to support pledges and events for great equality for all in the food industry and how to join our session at free trade shows in April.

The best way to keep up to date with all of our news, opportunities, events, features and podcasts is to subscribe to our fortnightly newsletter.

AI for Food & Drink Businesses:
Opportunities, Risks and What Comes Next? – 20th April 

Artificial Intelligence is already transforming the food and drink industry – from how businesses source ingredients and predict trends to how recipes, marketing and content are created.

One thing is certain: AI isn’t going away.

So how can we use it responsibly, creatively and to our advantage?

Join us at Corner Corner, for an inspiring event exploring how AI can support food and drink businesses while leaving more room for human creativity, innovation and connection.

Hear from leading voices in AI including:

LJ Rich – World-renowned AI musician and TV presenter who has hosted global AI events including the UN’s AI for Good Summit.

Kate Hofman – CEO of Pesto which helps founders and operations teams build resilient food and drink brands using AI to replace risky manual workflows.

Pade Ojomo – AI Enablement Consultant and founder of The GPT Club, the UK’s first AI implementation community.

Elisa Moyns – Senior commercial leader at Opply helping food and drink brands grow with AI-driven strategy and smarter supply chains.

Thomas Akintan – Co-founder of Avalon Insights specialising in practical AI implementation across businesses and organisations.
Hosted by Mex Ibrahim – Co-founder of Women in the Food Industry and award-winning advocate for equality, sustainability and ethical food.

Through fireside chats, workshops, expert panels and practical discussions, we’ll explore real-world uses of AI and the opportunities it presents for the industry.

The 2026 UK Food & Drink Shows, supported by Women in the Food Industry, will be shining a spotlight on the work of female industry leaders as businesses from across the trade come together for three days of innovation, inspiration and networking.

Food & Drink Expo 13th – 15th April
NEC Birmingham

We are at a special Women in the Food Industry panel on 15th April at 2.30pm – 3pm on Resilience and Reinvention, chaired by Mex Ibrahim, co-founder of Women In The Food Industry. She’ll be in conversation with hospitality professionals Aida Khan of Shola Kitchen, and Daksha Parekh / AKA  Chef D of My Green Kitchen.

Taking place at the NEC Birmingham from Monday 13 to Wednesday 15 April, The UK Food & Drink Shows comprises four events that each target a sector of the industry: Food & Drink Expo, Farm Shop & Deli Show, National Convenience Show and Forecourt Show.

Free to register, one ticket will give access to all four shows.

Health & The Modern Food System : Understanding Sensitivities and How to Heal – Panel & Tasting – The Conduit – 13th May 

From soil degradation to the microbiome – this brand new in-person event will give an understanding as to why our changing world is making us reactive to our food and how to reclaim our health.

We are witnessing a global spike in food allergies and intolerances, but the cause isn’t just in our genes – it’s in our environment. This event from 6pm-8.30pm on 13th May explores how the disruption of our natural food cycles has fundamentally changed the chemistry of what we eat and how our bodies respond. We will connect the dots between.

Join us at The Conduit in Covent Garden to discover why our environment is making us sensitive to our food and learn practical, systemic ways to restore the cycle of health.

This is a collaborative event put together by Liz Varones Community Champion of The Conduit’s Health Community Group, and our co-founder Mex Ibrahim who is Community Champion of The Conduit’s Food Systems Community Group,

Our panellists include:
Claire Mackenzie film, impact and content producer. She is the producer of independent environmental documentaries ‘Six Inches of Soil’ and ‘From The Ground Up’
Nicola Moore a highly respected nutritional therapist, educator, and thought leader with over 20 years’ experience at the forefront of nutrition, mental wellbeing, and behaviour change.
Liz Varones a seasoned marketing and sales leader and the Vice President of Growth at Mendelian, whose mission is to make rare diseases a priority.

Plus more to be announced!

The Solutions Bar: After the panel you can enjoy an interactive showcase and tastings of innovative, sustainable, and “allergy-friendly” food and drink.

Conduit Members can register for free on The Conduit app here.

However if you are not yet a Conduit member please email mecca@womeninthefoodindustry.com to join the list of people already keen to attend this event.

Ten-Point Pledge for Women in Hospitality: What It Means for Professional Kitchens

A new industry-wide Ten-Point Pledge designed to champion women and strengthen workplace culture across hospitality was unveiled at this year’s HRC – Hotel, Restaurant & Catering Show, held at ExCeL London.

Our co-founder, Mex Ibrahim, attended the panel discussion on 30 March where the pledge was introduced. Titled On a Knife’s Edge: Why Women’s Futures in Hospitality Matter, the conversation brought together senior voices from across the industry to explore the progress that has been made for women in hospitality – and the work that still needs to happen to ensure more women can thrive and progress in professional kitchens.

The pledge calls on hospitality leaders and businesses of all sizes to commit to practical actions designed to improve workplace culture and support career development across the sector. Several of the points directly reflect the experiences women have shared with Women In The Food Industry over the years.

If you wish to support the initiative you can register via the pledge page on the HRC website

Register for the free online National Allyship Summit – 14th May

We are proud to support the first event of its kind in the UK –  The National Allyship Summit 2026, powered by Scottish Widows, taking place on Thursday 14 May at London Stock Exchange and online.

Hosted by Male Allies UK, the Summit will bring together leaders across business, policy, media and technology to move the conversation from gender division to gender dialogue.

Set against a research-led agenda, the afternoon will explore where allyship stands now, what closes the gap in practice, how organisations can sustain momentum internally, and how progress can be measured with real accountability.

KPMG and the FTSE Women Leaders Review will help shape the wider evidence based around the day, alongside senior voices from across sectors.

All subscribers to our newsletter and members of Women in the Food Industry community can join online here.

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Thanks.