Bread & Jam launches virtual conference for food entrepreneurs

Most businesses have had to adapt in some way or another in response to COVID-19, and it’s led to many businesses finding a new way to trade.

For Bread & Jam – a company dedicated to providing vital information, support and opportunities for food business entrepreneurs – the company has conducted 100 webinars and supported 7,000 food and drink founders since lockdown. It goes to show that there’s a huge appetite for online support as well as advice for entrepreneurs who are keen to launch a new food business, despite the ongoing challenges.

It’s led the company to launch Bread & Jam 2.0, a virtual conference for ambitious food and drink brands that are keen to find out what the future holds for the industry and how their brand can seize new opportunities. It’s the perfect opportunity for people in the industry that are looking to fast-track their business in line with what’s billed as ‘the new normal’.

Hosted from 19th to 22nd October, the online edition will feature three days of peer-to-peer knowledge sharing and expert training from over 100 industry insiders, including the founders and CEOs of brands like Vita Coco, Tony’s Chocolonely, Tracklements and Strong Roots. The final day, meanwhile, will focus on one-to-one pitching to senior buyers from multiples and retailers such as Holland & Barrett, Whole Foods Market, Planet Organic and Selfridges.

Throughout the conference, virtual visitors will have the opportunity to connect with investors and buyers, and network with enterprising brand owners. Tapping into food trends, the show will also give visitors the chance to pitch live for £150,000 investment into plant-based businesses. The show will also feature a virtual exhibition zone offering additional business support; £3,000 worth of business resources and templates; and dedicated workshops and panels focusing on D2C.

The Bread & Jam team hopes this year’s digital version of the conference will help to support a wider audience, while giving visitors vital resources and opportunities during what’s been a challenging year: “Since the end of March, we have delivered over 150 hours of online workshops, panels and round tables attended by over 7,000 entrepreneurs across the UK and beyond,” Bread & Jam co-founder Jason Gibb told us. “So the appetite for online learning and support is there, and since many trade shows such as Speciality Fine Food Fair and Lunch! aren’t happening this year, we thought we needed to run Bread & Jam as a virtual conference. It’s super exciting as this really opens up our support to a much wider audience across the UK and Europe. We already have a brilliant line-up of speakers and retailers, and we are adding more all of the time.”

Tickets for Bread & Jam 2.0 are available for £215+VAT for the four days, with group discounts available. Find out more at breadandjamfest.com