On Friday 28 April, Produced in Kent will be holding its first Future Food Forum, an annual event bringing together independent food and drink businesses, sector specialists, industry and local Government to discuss how we create a better and more sustainable food system.
The event is open to anyone in or outside Kent who is involved with or interested to hear more about the local independent food and drink sector, with tickets costing only £15 and free access for businesses who are a member of Produced in Kent or receive support through the Boost Your Business programme.
Taking place at the Kent Business School, University of Kent, in Canterbury, the forum will combine thought-provoking presentations and interactive workshops. Speakers include Louis Bedwell from Mission Ventures on how to connect local food with the wider public, Ben Reynolds from Sustain(about localising supply chains and Rob Shand from Impact Resilience about how to build resilience in your business.
A Future Food Shop on site will showcase exciting new food and drink products and The Innovation Lab will provide a ‘soap box’ platform to inspiring businesses to share what they are doing in the area of sustainability and innovation with the audience.
Floortje Hoette, CEO of Produced in Kent, says: ‘With food and drink businesses battered by so many challenges, now is the time to come together and learn from each other how to run our business well, whilst looking after the planet and our communities. The local independent food and drink sector holds the key to a better future for food in this country. A future in which there is easier access to good food, the value of local food is recognised and support is provided to those who produce, sell and serve it in a sustainable manner.
If you want to hear about the latest developments in the sustainable food and drink arena, learn from industry experts and fellow business leaders and meet like-minded foodie enthusiasts, potential suppliers or buyers, influencers and decision-makers, join us on the 28th of April at this exciting new event!’
Ben Reynolds, Deputy CEO of food and farming charity Sustain says: “Across the UK the food and farming sector is being squeezed by rising costs and customers with shrinking purchasing power, against a backdrop of environmental and health concerns with which it is intimately linked. Where better to look than the garden of England for the spring buds and shoots of innovation amongst small food and farming businesses that might help lay the ground for a more sustainable and resilient future.”
To register for the Future Food Forum, visit HERE.
Conference Programme
09:00 – 09:30 Coffee, tea, breakfast huffkins
09.30hrs Welcome, Floortje Hoette, CE Produced in Kent and forum host Rob Smith, award-winning TV presenter and journalist
09.40 – 10:05 Speaker 1: Making sustainable, local food accessible to all – Louis Bedwell, Mission Ventures
10.05 – 10:30 Speaker 2: Local routes to market: better for the environment, better for your business – Ben Reynolds, Sustain
10:40 – 11:00 Speaker 3: Trading in uncertain times: tips for small businesses – Rob Shand, Impact Resilience
11:00 – 11:20 Q&A
11:25 – 11:55 Break – Industry Partners stands and Future Food Pop-Up Shop in the Atrium
12:00 – 12:40 and 12:45 – 13:25 – 2 Workshop rounds: How to stand out from the crowd?
• Social media: Work it like a pro – Zoe Cairns, ZC Social Media
• PR: Having the mindset to sell – AJ Sharp, Sharp Relations
• Sustainability: How to convince your customer – Vhari Russell, Food Marketing Experts
• Customer service: Getting your house in order – Linda Garcia, Alluxi Consulting
• Effective Time Management: Maximising Your Productivity – Mary Eniolu, Can Do Academy
• 12:00: Meet the Buyer: Pitching to win – Finnian Dunlop, Macknade
• 12:45: Meet the Buyer: Pitching to win – Kent Frozen Foods
13:30– 14:30 Lunch buffet and Innovation Lab