Inspiring Entrepreneurs: Meet the Foodies

Join us for a delicious conversation with inspiring food entrepreneurs during this Food Season.

This event brings together food business owners who have carved out their own unique spaces and are revolutionising the vibrant culinary world. From reimagining classic beans and crafting innovative ready meals, to blending diverse cultures through vegan Caribbean cuisine, West African snacks, and Mauritian restaurant experiences.

From navigating a saturated market to promoting change, our panellists will share the highs and lows of their entrepreneurial journeys, offering valuable insights and practical advice.

• Hear first-hand accounts of building a food business from the ground up, including overcoming obstacles and celebrating wins.
• Learn how to creatively build a loyal and growing social media following and generate revenue.
• Discuss the challenges and opportunities of operating a food business in today's market, including adapting to changing trends and consumer preferences.
• Explore innovative approaches to scaling and sustaining a thriving food business.
• Uncover the growing importance of health and wellness within the food industry.
• See how cultural backgrounds are transformed into valuable opportunities for new customer markets.
• Connect with fellow food enthusiasts, entrepreneurs and our speakers.
• Enjoy a delicious product tasting from one of our featured speakers.

Amelia Christie-Miller is the founder of Bold Bean Co and author of bestselling cookbook, Bold Beans. On a mission ‘to make you obsessed with beans, by giving you the best of beans’, Bold Bean Co sells expertly sourced, slow cooked jarred beans and gourmet baked beans, stocked in Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Ocado.

Marianne Olaleye is the co-founder of Puff Puff Ministry, the UK’s leading West African doughnut brand, and has worked with major clients including Google, Netflix, Meta, TikTok and Amazon. She is also the founder of JAIKU, a storytelling agency helping brands stay memorable. She has appeared on Channel 4’s ‘Aldi’s Next Big Thing'.

Natasha Orumbie is the founder of The Vegan Patty Lady – creating award-winning, plant-based patties inspired by authentic Caribbean flavours. Natasha’s brand is committed to clean, natural ingredients, catering to health-conscious consumers and aiming to redefine plant-based snacking.

Segun Akinwoleola is the founder of The Gym Kitchen, a thriving food brand that offers healthy, affordable meals, stocked in major Uk supermarkets. Segun is an entrepreneur with a passion for business, innovation, and diversity in fast-moving consumer goods, and over 15 years of experience in sales and marketing.

Shelina Permaloo is a chef, restauranteur, author and TV personality, and previous winner of MasterChef UK. With a strong online following, Shelina has experience with cookery demonstrations and hosting, radio and TV broadcasting, menu development and food content creation.

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Host or Publisher British Library, Business & IP Centre