Lunch & Learn: Scaling smart in food and drink
Growing a food or drink venture brings a unique set of challenges, from maintaining quality and consistency to standing out on crowded shelves and preparing for rapid scale. Understanding how to upscale effectively, while building a strong and credible brand, is crucial for founders looking to take their next step.
In this Lunch & Learn session, you'll gain a practical, real-world perspective on what it takes to grow a food or drink business in today's competitive landscape. Drawing on direct founder experience, the session will explore the realities of scaling production, navigating funding opportunities, and using branding as a key driver of growth and recognition within the industry.
The session will also highlight how innovation, trends and exposure through events and trade shows can play a vital role in building momentum, opening doors and forming meaningful connections across the food and drink ecosystem.
Whether you're at the idea stage, early traction or actively preparing to scale, this session will offer valuable insight into how food and drink founders can grow with confidence and clarity.
In this session, you'll explore:
- Routes to early innovation funding, including innovation grants and similar opportunities for food and drink ventures.
- What scaling really looks like in the food and drink industry, from product development to retail readiness.
- The importance of branding and storytelling in building trust and standing out in a competitive market.
- Emerging and innovative trends shaping the future of the food and drink sector.
- Innovation within the drinks industry and how brands are responding to changing consumer needs.
- Why expos, trade shows and industry events matter — and how they can boost visibility, credibility and connections.
Perfect for students, first-time founders, early-stage entrepreneurs, researchers and anyone curious about building and growing a food or drink brand.