Partner - European Food and Farming Partnerships, Member - UK Government Food and Drink Sector Council, Strategic Trade Advisory Group and Food & Drink Export Council

Andy joined Unilever in 1989 then BOCM PAULS where he held several commercial roles. In 2000, he joined Volac, the dynamic UK dairy nutrition business, becoming Director of Corporate Affairs and Sustainability before leaving in February 2023. He is now a Partner in EFFP, the leading UK supply chain consultancy, and is a Non Exec Director in agrifood business together with being a Director in AIC Services.

Andy is also a member of the UK Government Food and Drink Sector Council, Strategic Trade Advisory Group and the Food & Drink Export Council. In 2018, he co-Founded the international collaboration “Protein Challenge 2040” which aimed to develop a sustainable global balance between protein production and consumption.

Chief Executive - Food and Drink Wholesale UK (FWD)

James Bielby has been Chief Executive of the Food and Drink Wholesale UK (FWD) the trade association for food and drink wholesalers serving retailers and out of home, for over 15 years.

FWD represents the sector to government, suppliers, customers and the outside world, aiming to create favourable trading conditions for members by lobbying for policy change and defending against regulatory burdens. FWD also advises members on potential political opportunities, threats and requirements, works to create a safer trading environment and provides a meeting place for wholesalers and suppliers on non-compete issues. 

James is a member of the Food and Drink Sector Council, the National Retail Crime Steering Group, and is a school governor.  

Speaker, Author and Consultant - Buyerology Ltd

Karen Green, former Tesco/Boots buyer, is a business consultant working with food and drink companies to gain UK retailer listings.  

 She is an award-winning business consultant, speaker and UK Sales advisor for UN ITC, enabling their clients to enter the UK market.  She is the author of two best-selling books – Recipe for Success, and Buyer-ology®, both shortlisted for Business Book Awards.

Karen is also a passionate foodie and regularly volunteers to judge events including Pitch Live, Great Taste and other awards.

Trading Manager for Pantry and Speciality Foods - Ocado

Freya began her buying career at Waitrose, where she spent nearly 14 years working across a variety of categories, predominantly in Ambient Food with products like Breakfast Cereals, Preserves, and Homebaking.  

She has been at forefront of Ocado’s growth and transformation for over two and a half years particularly driving the digital revolution and the evolution of retail., initially joining as a Senior Buyer for Cheese and more recently transitioning into the role of Pantry and Food Cupboard Trading Manager, where each day brings something new.    

Freya is passionate about food retail and a self-proclaimed foodie, she loves collaborating and it gives her a deep sense of fulfilment and immense pride seeing the success of launching not just products but also dreams of small suppliers. 

Head of Portfolio, Food for Later - Greencore

Kerri has 25 years of rich experience in the food and drinks industry both across retail and manufacturing, currently leading the Food For Later Portfolio at Greencore across Ready meals, Soup and Sauce, Quiche and Coleslaw and salads.  

With an evident love for food from childhood, Kerri started her career post studying Home Economics at University in her dream job as a chocolatier at Thorntons. With a highly impressive career leading retail in development, buying and quality roles, she is passionate about sharing her experience to inspire younger leaders, and shaping the future in today's radically changing industry landscape.  

Co-founder - Women in the Food Industry

Mecca is passionate about gender equality, co-founding Women in the Food Industry in 2019. The organization supports women across the food sector, advocating for equality, inclusion, and leadership opportunities, and empowering women to achieve their career goals in the industry.

With expertise in sustainability, entrepreneurship, and ethical eating, Mecca is a trustee of School Food Matters, a member of the Guild of Food Writers, sits on the advisory board of New Food Magazine and is an associate of the Royal Society of Public Health.

With 8 years of experience as Head of Social Media and Marketing at Great British Chefs, delivering award-winning campaigns for the UK’s fastest-growing food website, Mecca now operates a successful freelance business in social media, content creation, and digital strategy. 

Global Director, Consumer, Retail and Food - British Standards Institution (BSI)

With a remarkable career spanning over 45 years in the food industry, Richard commenced his journey as an NPD food technologist with St Ivel, before moving into commercial roles across the international food ingredient and food manufacturing sectors. He spearheaded ground-breaking initiatives, including the import, processing, and distribution of Non-GMO soy lecithin from Brazil, a feat that involved the design, establishment and commissioning of a dedicated Non-GMO soy lecithin processing plant in the UK to serve all the major food brands and manufacturers.

Richard's commitment to excellence was further demonstrated through his establishment of Cert ID Europe followed by Cert ID Asia, renowned Non-GMO and food safety UKAS accredited certification bodies. His brainchild, FoodChain Europe, became a focal point for impactful training and consulting services. In the present day, Richard serves as BSI's Global Director for Consumer, Retail & Food driving and accelerating BSI's global food assurance portfolio worldwide.