Foodsteps Is Community Partner At 2026 Bread & Jam Festival As They Celebrate 10 Years In Business
From the seed of an idea to the UK's largest community of emerging food and drink brands, Bread & Jam celebrates 10 years in business – and Foodsteps is proud to be their community partner. Grown out of their first Food Founders Festival in 2016, the Bread and Jam Festival has been dubbed the “Glastonbury of the food and drink biz”, bringing together thousands of food founders, retailers, investors, industry experts and media.
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We are delighted to announce that Foodsteps is an official Community Partner for the 2026 Bread & Jam Festival, taking place at the Business Design Centre in Islington, London, on 14 and 15 July.
At Foodsteps, we know that transforming the food system requires immense collaboration across the entire value chain. Securing retail listings and building resilient supply chains can be incredibly complex, especially in an industry that often cites 90% overall failure of startups. Overcoming these hurdles requires a connected ecosystem where emerging brands can access the data, networks, and industry expertise needed to scale their impact safely and sustainably.
This year marks a significant milestone for that ecosystem: the 10th anniversary of Bread & Jam. Founded in 2016 by entrepreneurs Tara Mei and Jason Gibb, the platform has cultivated the largest community of emerging and scaling food and drink brands in the UK. Over the last decade, they have hosted more than 350 events, supporting over 30,000 attendees through pitching opportunities, networking, and peer-to-peer knowledge sharing.
Reflecting on the last ten years, the team has noted a clear evolution in the industry. “Over the last decade,” says Tara, “we’ve seen challenger brands become far more disciplined in how they scale – with a stronger focus on long-term profitability, resilient supply chains, health-conscious innovation, and building sustainable consumer demand. It’s an exciting space to be in, and we’re proud to continue playing a role in its evolution.”
Secure your tickets for the 10th-anniversary festival here.
A Snapshot of the 2026 Festival
Bringing together thousands of food and drink founders, retailers, investors, and industry experts, this July’s festival is set to be their most comprehensive yet. The two-day programme includes:
Expanded Retail Pitching:
The Pitching Zone has doubled in size, offering 1,000 pitching opportunities with regional, national, and international buyers across major retail, speciality, distribution, and food service sectors – including Waitrose and Ocado.
Industry-Leading Speakers:
Over 80 thought leaders and industry icons will be sharing insights on navigating modern market challenges, featuring founders and representatives from Bold Bean Co, PerfectTed, Two Chicks, Doughlicious, and BOL.
Expert Roundtables:
With double the number of interactive roundtable sessions compared to previous years, these sessions dive into highly topical operational strategies, including how to practically implement AI within an FMCG business.
The Breadwinner Competition:
An all-new, six-round heat to identify and support the ultimate challenger brand showing the highest potential for scalable growth.
Ultimately, success in the modern food & drink market hinges on bringing unique, transparent products to market that address evolving consumer trends. By connecting ambitious challenger brands directly with key industry players, Bread & Jam provides a vital launchpad for the future of food and drink.
Foodsteps is thrilled to support this community as it enters its second decade of driving innovation in the UK food system.
Join the UK's biggest challenger brand festival this July.
