One of the highlights of this year’s Speciality & Fine Food Fair was Pitch Live, in partnership with IND!E, which drew full houses across both days as emerging producers showcased their products to an all-star panel of buyers.

The session gave brands the chance to pitch directly to representatives from leading retailers including Ocado, Waitrose, Booths, Selfridges, and British Airways. Judges’ favourites included Louisa’s Honey, Basalt Distillery, Schoolyard Kitchen, Pickle Project, Mallard Point, and Pomme Blushe, all of whom impressed with their storytelling, product quality, and presentation.

Genevieve Fitch, Supplier Relationships Manager at Ocado Retail, said: “Ocado has a track record of supporting small brands, it's something we absolutely love and which is part of our strategy. We've been working with IND!E now for more than a year to bring more brands onto our site. Today was a great opportunity for some of those brands to pitch to us and potentially get a listing on Ocado.”

Maria Trapani, Buyer at Selfridges, added: “The pitches were all great, they told the story of their brands and really got across the passion for their product. The winner stood out due to the strong story and thoughtful packaging, which was clearly linked to how the brand began.”

Martha Garbe, Director at Basalt Distillery, said: “Hopefully when the judges tasted it they loved it. They said they loved the unique packaging design and the fact there was a story behind it. It's retail focused and giftable. It was amazing to get such great feedback from one of our target clients, Selfridges would be an amazing listing for us.”

Sarah Christie, Brand Ambassador for Schoolyard Kitchen, commented: “Our unique selling point speaks for itself. The relationship we have with our Ghanaian partners and keeping kids in education helped us stand out. Standing in front of an audience and winning was really special.”

Louisa Georgiou, Director at Louisa's Honey, added: “We do such a variety of flavours and they're all pure and natural. It was a big surprise to win and a wonderful moment. Thanks to IND!E for helping artisan producers get into retail.”

Matt Hopkins, Co-Founder of IND!E, said: “I love Speciality, it's my favourite event of the year. Our partnership is growing year on year and we're already planning to go bigger in 2026. This show is the epicentre of our market. Our customers are mid-to-premium retailers, our brands are challenger brands, and anyone who's anyone in this industry comes to this show. Even with the tube strikes, it’s been heaving this year. It’s fantastic and I’m really grateful for our partnership.”

Nicola Woods, Event Manager at Speciality & Fine Food Fair, added: “Pitch Live, in partnership with IND!E, was a resounding success. It perfectly showcases how the Fair continues to champion emerging talent and connect them with the right buyers. Seeing these brands pitch their passion and innovation in front of a full theatre has been inspiring. We’re already looking forward to building on this success for 2026 and creating an even bigger platform for small producers to shine.”

Pitch Live 2025 demonstrated once again that Speciality & Fine Food Fair is the go-to destination for discovering new brands, networking with key retailers, and celebrating the creativity and craftsmanship of the UK’s finest artisan producers.