Speciality & Fine Food Fair returned to Olympia on 9-10 September 2025 with a bustling showcase of artisanal food and drink, proof of the industry’s resilience despite tube strikes disrupting travel across London. Thousands of visitors from retail, wholesale and hospitality came together to discover exciting new products, hear from sector experts and build lasting connections.

Pitch Live in Partnership with IND!E

One of the standout features of this year’s edition was Pitch Live in Partnership with IND!E. The theatre was filled to capacity across both days as emerging producers pitched their products to an all-star panel of buyers. Louisa’s Honey, Basalt Distillery, Schoolyard Kitchen, Pickle Project, Mallard Point and Pomme Blushe were all chosen as judges’ favourites, selected by representatives from Ocado, Waitrose, Booths, Selfridges, British Airways and more.

Genevieve Fitch, Supplier Relationships Manager at Ocado Retail, commented: “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.”

Seminar Programme and Village Square

The Food for Thought stage once again provided a hub of big ideas and practical insights, with sessions tackling the most pressing issues and opportunities facing the sector.

The programme opened with Charles Banks (thefoodpeople) and Kelly Dowson (Good Sense Research) unveiling the latest Future Food Trend Tracker, looking at the consumer sentiments and shifts expected to shape 2026. Sustainability was another strong theme, with Veryan Bliss exploring EU–UK trade opportunities in fresh produce and a panel from Invest Northern Ireland demonstrating how ethical growth can drive long-term business success.

Sessions on the human side of retail includws John Farrand (Guild of Fine Food) leading a discussion on the importance of skilled selling and customer service, while Michael Lane (Fine Food Digest) chaired a debate on how independent retailers can adapt to shifting loyalty patterns.

Technology had a prominent place on the agenda, with Holly Shackleton (Speciality Food) moderating a session on how AI tools can help independent businesses save time and streamline operations, while cyber security specialists and Cotswold Fayre CEO Paul Hargeaves joined BIRA’s Andrew Goodacre to share practical steps for protecting food and retail businesses from digital threats.

Diversity and leadership were also front and centre, from Mecca Ibrahim’s panel on women shaping the future of drinks to Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE and his son Alexander sharing insights into The Black Farmer’s retail growth. Conversations around health and transparency closed the programme, with Holland & Barrett’s Niamh McCormack joining others to unpack the opportunities in health-led product development, followed by a debate on greenwashing versus genuine sustainability claims with Provenance founder Jessi Baker MBE and Two Farmers’ Mark Green.

New for this year, the Village Square added an extra layer of discovery. Regional producers, wholesalers and standout suppliers hosted guided tastings throughout both days, with highlights including Invest Northern Ireland, Diverse Fine Foods, Cotswold Fayre and Regional Stars, all showcasing unique products with compelling sourcing stories and pairing suggestions. The space proved to be a valuable meeting point for buyers looking for fresh flavours and regional authenticity

2025 Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards

The 2025 Speciality & Fine Food Fair Awards ceremony, held on 9 September, recognised the very best in fine food and drink. Designed to celebrate excellence across the industry, the awards highlighted outstanding new products, diversity champions and inspirational regional producers. Winners were decided through a combination of public vote and deliberation by a panel of leading industry judges.

Nicola Woods, Event Manager for Speciality & Fine Food Fair, commented: “We were not only overwhelmed by the unprecedented number of entries but also by their exceptional quality. This truly highlights the incredible innovation happening within our industry.”

2025 Award Winners:

• Large Independent Retailer of the Year, sponsored by WBC, in partnership with BIRA: Nourished Communities

• Small Independent Retailer of the Year, sponsored by WBC, in partnership with BIRA: Club Soda

• New Product of the Year – UK: Two Farmers 0.0% Apple Cider, Two Farmers

• New Product of the Year – International: Kimchi Ketchup, Chimac

• ‘Not Year on the Shelf’ Award: Smoked Cornish Mackerel, Hevva!

• Outstanding Regional Star: Joanna Morgan, Founder, Radnor Preserves

• DEI Champion: Mecca Ibrahim, Co-Founder, Women in the Food Industry

• Outstanding Industry Champion: Wilfred Emmanuel-Jones MBE, Founder, The Black Farmer

Buyers reflect on the Fair

Visitors from across the UK shared their thoughts on this year’s show:

Oliver Stubbins, General Manager, Welbeck Farm Shop and Harley Café: “Speciality & Fine Food Fair is always one of the highlights of the year for us as a Farm Shop and Café. We make the 300-mile round trip every year and always come back with new products and suppliers. We also benefit from catching up in person with existing suppliers. Further, it gives us time away from the daily tasks to bond as a team, and it falls perfectly after the peak summer trade and before the Christmas mayhem begins. A fabulous event all-round.”

Jason Danciger, Managing Director, Hana Group: “Speciality & Fine Food Fair is a sounding board for success with a cornucopia of great products, great producers and great people.”

Mathieu Carpenter, Head of Fresh, Zoom by Ocado: “Despite London being gridlocked, Speciality & Fine Food Fair definitely wasn't. The place was buzzing with energy, and everyone was clearly keen to do business. It was a fantastic and productive day which shows the resilience of the industry.”

Jason Elvin, Group Executive Development Chef, Bakkavor Group: "What a fabulous show! The breadth of products on display was superb, backed up by knowledgeable and passionate suppliers. Looking forward to next year’s event." 

Sarah Moughtin, Buyer - Gift Food, John Lewis: "I love meeting new brands. Hearing a brand's origin story and the creator's passion directly helps give a deeper product understanding. You can also really tell how authentic a product is, much greater than in a catalogue or on website. Not forgetting of course that you get to taste many products and varieties for instant comparison!"

The energy at Speciality & Fine Food Fair 2025 demonstrated the strength and creativity of the UK’s food and drink sector, with exhibitors, buyers and industry leaders uniting to celebrate quality, originality and community. Subscribe to our newsletter to keep up to date with all the latest news from the Fair. The event returns to Olympia on 15-16 September 2026.