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National Food and Drink Summit 2024

Join food and drink SMEs for the National Food and Drink Summit 2024, a Defra event for SME producers in England supporting their growth and resilience.

Event Information

The Department for Environment Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) has announced that registrations for the National Food and Drink Summit 2024 are now open. 

The summit brings together food and drink businesses with industry experts for a day of masterclasses, networking and pitching opportunities. The annual event is tailored to small and medium food and drink businesses looking to grow their business.

This year, DEFRA are excited to welcome industry experts including Alice Jones from the Food Innovation Centre, Andrew Collinson from the Food and Drink Forum, and Dan Soper from the Food and Drink Federation. Each brings a wealth of expertise and insights that will inspire and challenge.

Further speakers and buyers will be announced on our event page over the coming weeks.

The third Defra food and drink Summit will include a choice of workshops covering sustainability, innovation, public procurement and exports and SME growth journeys, to help inspire you on the next steps for your business’s growth. The full agenda will be published closer to the event.

As well as hearing from businesses who have trodden similar paths, the event’s Marketplace will feature a number of support bodies who will be on hand for you to discuss your business’ needs.

What's on offer?

  • Masterclass Insights: Learn from the best with workshops focused on the latest industry trends and growth strategies. This year sessions will cover topics including Green Growth, Exports, and Innovation.
  • Purposeful Networking: A chance to build connections with fellow entrepreneurs and industry veterans.
  • Pitch Your Product: A platform for SMEs to present products to potential buyers and open the door to new market opportunities.

Meet the Buyer

This year DEFRA are pleased to include a ‘Meet the Buyer’ session, where selected attendees will have the opportunity to speak to a buyer about their products.  DEFRA will notify attendees when applications for this session open.

To find out more please click here.