Re-imagining food: Food Week co-founder Victoria Albrecht
The future of food will be a major theme at this year’s CGA Peach 2020 conference in London on November 23, with a panel of food tech entrepreneurs highlighting some of the latest innovations and trends shaping the future food landscape.
Food Tech Week founder Victoria Albrecht will be joined on our Re-imagining Food panel by Johan Langenbick, CEO of Foodpairing, a pioneer in algorithm-driven ‘personalisation’ of food and drink flavour combinations, and Jason Hirst of Evogro.com, which uses state-of-the art lighting, hydroponics and environmental software to help chefs grow their own fresh ingredients on-site.
They will be joined on the conference programme by top businessman, former Asda boss and current chairman of Wagamama Allan Leighton, who will be in conversation with CGA Peach’s Peter Martin in the conference Head-to-Head interview
Leighton, whose business involvements have ranged from Wal-Mart, Royal Mail, BSkyB and Selfridges to Cannons, Lastminute.com, Dyson and Canadian retail giant Loblaw, will be drawing on that vast experience to talk about his business approach, and his view of the challenges for the out-of-home market. Leighton recently took the chair at Wagamama and is the author of two best-selling business books ‘On Leadership’ and ‘Tough Calls’.
One of the architects of the renaissance of the North of England, developer and founder of Urban Splash Tom Bloxham MBE is also on the roster. With the future of the Northern Powerhouse still firmly on the political and business agenda, Bloxham, whose company has been instrumental in bringing people back to live in the heart of cities like Manchester, will be setting out what he sees as the challenges for nurturing business outside of London. Urban Splash is a leader in urban regeneration and has won in excess of 370 awards for design, architecture and renewal.
Top operators speaking include Steve Holmes, CEO of Azzurri Group whose casual dining brands include Zizzi, ASK Italian and Coco di Mama, and Mel Marriott, head of the London-based bar and restaurant start-up Darwin & Wallace.
CGA Strategy CEO Phil Tate will explain why Booze is back, and what’s driving the push to craft, artisan and premiumisation in the world of alcohol.
Helping to host the conference and chair the panel sessions, with CGA Peach’s Peter Martin, will be industry icons and restaurant entrepreneurs Robin Rowland and James Horler.
The exclusive, invitation-only event for the sector’s leading executives and entrepreneurs is being held at The Brewery, Chiswell Street, on Wednesday November 23, and will be followed in the evening by the annual Peach Hero & Icon Awards dinner, honouring the best in the industry.
“The eating and drinking-out market is highly competitive and always facing new challenges. To win and to take advantage of emerging opportunities, it is vital for us to look beyond and well as within the sector for ideas and inspiration. That’s why we are delighted to have two such legendary figures as Allan and Tom at Peach 2020 this year,” said Peter Martin, who will be chairing this year’s event.
Topics on the agenda will include the economy, Brexit, people, the return of drink and technology in food – and details of more speakers will be released shortly.
Brands and companies already registered to attend include: 360 Restaurants, Anglian Country Inns, Aubaine, Azzuri, Barburrito, Barworks / The Diner, BeAtOne, Bella Italia, Big Easy, Bills, Bitters’n’Twisted, Black & Blue, Brasserie Bar Co, Brewdog, Breakfast Club, Busaba, Café Rouge, Caffe Nero, Camino, Carluccio’s, Casual Dining Group, Ceviche, Chozen, Cinnamon Club, Comptois Libanais, Cosy Club, Cote Restaurants, Darwin & Wallace, Deltic Group, Dirty Martini, Dishoom, Ennismore, Drake & Morgan, Enterprise Inns, ETM, Five Guys, Fullers Pubs, Gaucho, GBK, Giggling Squid, Glendola, Hammond & Whiting, Hickory’s, Hippo Inns, Itsu, Jamie’s Italian, K10, Killer Tomato, Laine Pub Co, Leon, Little Gems, Living Ventures, London Union, Loungers, M Restaurants, M&B, MeatLiquor, Nando’s, New World Trading Co, Novus, Peach Pub Co, Pho, Pizza Express, Pizza Hut, Pret a Manger, Prezzo, PubLove & Burger Craft, Red’s True BBQ, Revolution Bars, Ruth & Robinson, San Carlo, Seafood Pub Co, Smashburger, Starbucks, Sticks n Sushi, Temper, Tesco Restaurants, TGI Fridays, The Restaurant Group, Tortilla, Vapiano, Wagamama, Wahaca, Wetherspoon, Whitbread Restaurants, Wright & Bell, YO! Sushi, Yummy Pubs.
CGA Peach 2020 is supported by Platinum Partners:
Bookatable, Coca Cola, Coffer Corporate Leisure, Crown Cellars, CPL Online, Diageo, Fourth, HospitalityGEM, NatWest, Zonal
And our Event Partners:
Action Against Hunger, Casual Dining Show, Fishbowl, Miller Brands, Reynolds, RSM, Springboard, Steelite, Travers Smith
The conference and awards dinner are both strictly invitation-only events, with places reserved for senior executives in operating companies. To apply for a place, email kate.stretton@cgapeach.co.uk
