The date for the second Food Drink Summit has just been announced! Tickets will go on sale early in the New Year.
In 2025 we held the inaugural event:
The Southwest’s thriving food and drink community came together for an unmissable day of insights, innovation, and inspiration. Whether you’re a producer, entrepreneur, or industry professional, Gather was a great opportunity to gain the knowledge, connections, and strategies needed to grow and future-proof your business.
From scaling up production to navigating sustainability, branding, and market trends, the event addressed the most significant challenges and opportunities in today’s evolving food and drink sector.
As a landmark one-day summit, Gather was brought to life by passionate stakeholders from Food Drink Devon, the University of Exeter, and supported by Devon Food Partnership, Bishop Fleming, Maia Growth, Buddy Creative and Clockwork Marketing.
Further details of the 2026 Summit will be published soon.
David Edwards is Deputy Chief Executive of the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission. He’ll outline the key challenges and opportunities in UK food and farming, how FFCC’s work is shaping government policy, and why smaller, progressive businesses must be heard in a system dominated by big corporations.
Toby Buckland is a gardener, TV presenter, and author, best known for hosting BBC’s Gardeners’ World in 2008 and 2010 and continues to present on the show and BBC2's coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show. He won an RHS Gold and Best in Show for his Ethical Garden in 2008. Toby runs an award-winning festival at Powderham Castle that encomapsses food, plants, art and rural crafts. He is also the 2025 Garden Media Guild gardening columnist of the year and his BBC Radio show on BBC Sounds is the most listened to music, environment and gardening program in the UK. With deep roots in the West Country, Toby will talk about what makes the region special and how local communities and businesses can use this to attract wider interest.
Claire Burnet is the co-founder of Chococo, a multi-award-winning premium chocolate company founded in Dorset in 2002.
In her talk, Claire will share how Chococo has succeeded in a price-driven market by championing quality. Not just in its products, but in the relationships and values behind them, and why quality can still lead in today’s competitive landscape.
Alongside our three Keynote Speakers, choose from 16 practical workshops across four core themes.
Tickets are £59, and Food Drink Devon members, the University of Exeter, and Exeter Food receive a £10 discount.
Get your tickets today and be part of the future of Southwest’s food and drink industry. www.tickettailor.com/events/gatherfooddrinksummit Questions? Contact Kate at events@fooddrinkdevon.co.uk
