Calling all FoodTech innovators!  Inspired by the Fortune 500, our supporter Forward Fooding is proud to present the FoodTech 500, the world’s first definitive list of the global entrepreneurial talent at the intersection between food, technology and sustainability. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of the ‘Fortune 500’ of the FoodTech sector, applications close on November 15th!

Congratulations to Lily Morris who became Young Cheesemonger of the Year 2023.  The 21 year old from Morris’ of Usk Garden & Food Centre in Usk, Monmouthshire, south Wales  picked up her honour at the World Cheese Awards held at the Trondheim Spektrum, Norway.  The Academy of Cheese run the contest which champions new talented cheesemongers under the age of 30.

Women in The Food Industry member and award-winning chef, Amber Francis, hailed as one to watch on Great British Menu, is taking on a new challenge – cooking incredible food in a school as she joins Chefs In Schools. The pioneering non profit, Chefs in Schools recently won a BBC Food and Farming Award – the Derek Cooper Award for Outstanding Achievement. 

Congratulations to the winners of the BBC Food and Farming Awards which took place on 25th October 2023 at the ICCW in Newport.  The awards were judged and hosted by great presenters including Radio 4’s The Food Programme host, Sheila Dillon, Thomasina Miers, cook, television presenter and co-founder of the Wahaca chain of Mexican restaurants, drinks writer Jaega Wise,  food presenter Leyla Kazim and presenters Sam and Shauna from Hangfire BBQ.  We were delighted to see so many women win awards at the ceremony.

The Biskery create bespoke, to order, handmade, artisan biscuits for businesses and consumers. Saskia Roskam shares the story with Women In The Food Industry of how she and Lisa Shepherd (a fellow digital marketeer), came to set up the company, which now offers other mothers flexible work at their award-winning sustainable business.

In this episode, Mex co-founder of Women in the Food Industry, talks to Amanda Ross, CEO & Co-Founder of Cactus TV, who amongst other shows have produced the multi-award winning show, Saturday Kitchen, for 17 years. Amanda is strong champion of women and discusses why this is important, plus she candidly explores her experience of working as woman in the TV world. 

Plan Zheroes are a surplus food charity connecting businesses with surplus food to nearby charities who can use it. This Autumn, Plan Zheroes will be making a new cookbook and they are inviting all who care about food-surplus to join them in this celebration. We spoke to one of their Ambassadors, Kirsten Frederickson, about the project.

The Restaurant Show showcases the best products, services and innovations in the market and returns to London’s Olympia from 2nd to the 4th October 2023.  Our co-founder, Mecca Ibrahim, is delighted to be part of  panel at Restaurant Live on 3rd October called Inclusive onboard: Retaining and welcoming fresh talent to the industry.  Read on to find more about  on the panel and how you can register for the session & for free tickets to The Restaurant Show.

WIFI Chats is a series of podcasts hosted by Janie Ash & Mex Ibrahim, co-founders of Women in the Food Industry. Join them as they chat to wonderful women across the food industry. These podcasts are part of our mission to give a voice to women and by sharing these stories we hope to inspire the next generation of women in the food industry. In this episode Mex chats to Lucianne Allen about how she made the move from being a barrister to running her family’s successful butchery business – Aubrey Allen. It has been in her family since 1933 and supplies meat to some of the nation’s best-known chefs.

A Good Thing is a new not-for-profit online platform that connects charities right across the UK with businesses of all types that have things to give away. We spoke to co-founder Cathy Benwell about the platform’s mission to reduce waste and to encourage reuse – meaning less to landfill and more to a good cause. Discover why the organisation has its sights set on the food industry.

Inspired by a great feature in the Observer Food Monthly, our co-founder Mex Ibrahim,  decided to take a look at some of the women who are running kitchen gardens so they can supply the freshest products possible to their restaurants, cafes and schools.

Speciality & Fine Food Fair, the UK’s leading showcase of artisanal food and drink, is returning from the 11th – 12th of September at Olympia, London. It’s a free industry event, designed as a food festival. Our co-founder, Mecca Ibrahim, is delighted to be chairing a session in the Trends Theatre on 11th September called Representing Diverse Food Cultures in Retail. Read on to find out about the esteemed women in the food industry on the panel and what you will takeaway from the panel and the event.