Bread & Jam 2026: The UK's Biggest Challenger Brand Festival

About this event

The must-attend annual gathering for challenger brands looking to accelerate their growth, powered by GS1 UK. Bread & Jam Festival is back for its biggest year yet, join us on the 14th-15th July 2026 at the Business Design Centre, Islington. Since launching in 2016, Bread & Jam has grown from a scrappy startup gathering into the must-attend event of the year for hundreds of ambitious FMCG challenger brands. This summer, we’re celebrating a whole decade of bold ideas, brilliant networking and business-building and we’d love you to be part of it. Check out the show preview 📖 What can you expect at Bread & Jam Festival 2026? Two day, in-person event held at the Business Design Centre, powered by GS1 UK You'll learn invaluable trade secrets from over 40+ hours of ground-breaking industry content Learn from those who have been there and done it - Founders of Bold Bean, Rheal and many more! Previous speakers have included the likes of Tenzing, Love Corn, The Gym Kitchen, The Popcorn Shed, Karma Cola, Simply Roasted. More to be announced soon... Pitch to top UK retailers and secure a listing - Apply to pitch to 100+ retailers such as Waitrose, Planet Organic, British Airways, Co-op, Holland & Barrett, Ocado & more! Showcase your products and get-real time feedback from attendees in the Producers' Shop Meet 60+ industry experts in the Marketplace. They're specially curated for working with fast growth food & drink brands Network with 100s of like-minded, ambitious food & drink founders The Festival is THE place to build the connections you need to grow your business, and networking is built directly into the programme. Get feedback from a panel of retail buyers at the Tasting Panel. Get personalised advice on your branding, packaging and point of difference from industry experts at The Advisor Zone. Pitch live on stage to a panel of investors. Whether you're looking for pre-seed, seed or series A investment, this is your chance. Who should be there? Founders of emerging FMCG brands interested in accelerating the growth of their business Early-stage entrepreneurs who want to understand the opportunities in the FMCG world. Industry experts keen to give back to the industry and inspire the next generation of entrepreneurs Team members of fast growth challenger brands looking to up-skill and gather industry insights Investors looking for food and drink startups keen to secure their first round of funding Scaling FMCG brands keen to secure their next supermarket listing What's on the agenda? The Leaders' Room : be inspired by the hottest thought leaders that have disrupted the industry on this stage and take part in lively panel discussions with successful food founders who have been there and done it. Powered by Joelson . Retail Buyers' Panels : hear straight from the horse's mouth and understand the latest opportunities in retail, as retail buyers share what they're really looking for and how to get listed FMCG Masterclasses: the Masterclasses will arm you with the skills and knowledge you need in the three key areas of running a challenger business: sales, marketing, AI and operations. Enhance your expertise in these comprehensive sessions. Whether you're a soloprenuer or a head of department with a growing brand, there will be something for you in these tiered topics. R oundtables: get the latest know how from seasoned industry experts in an intimate, small-group setting. Engage in meaningful discussions, receive personalised advice and walk away with actionable strategies you can implement right away in your business. I'm an industry expert. How can I exhibit or sponsor? If you're an industry expert or service provider that loves working with emerging food and drink brands, please reach out to our Partnerships Manager Nancy Calvo at nancy@breadandjamfest.com and she'll be able to take you through the opportunities for this year's festival and how you can get involved. Don't just take our word for it.... “I joined the very first Bread

Tags