Programme

9.30

School Food Show exhibition opens - Hall 1 and 2

9.45-11.15

School Chef of the Year Final - Heat 1
Hall 2 Foyer (View competition schedule)

10.30

Workshop Sessions, Arden Suite

10.30

Workshop 1: ParentPay School Meals Report 

The annual Parentpay report conducted in conjunction with The School Food People and looking at parental views on the school food service will open the School Food People Show and Forum 2026.  Discover views on food quality, preferred food choices and much more.

11.00

Workshop 2: The growing challenge of speciaI diets, IDDSI and textured meals - Sophie Murray, Nutritionist  

Much is focused on special diets amongst the elderly, but the requirements are increasing in the school meals service.  Sophie is a nutritionist with expert knowledge of the challenges caterers face when needing to provide specialized diets for customers. 

11.30

Workshop 3: Ask the Experts - Chaired by Bryan Lygate, COO Impact Food Group and The School Food People Vice Chair

Panelists:
Louise Kerton, The School Food People Wales board member; Philippa Terry, COO, Juniper Ventures and Director, The School Food People; Luke Consiglio, CEO, The Pantry Catering and Director, The School Food People 

The annual Q&A where School Food People experts will answer questions and concerns posed members and Main Event visitors.  Questions can be posed on the day or in advance using this link 

11.30-13.30

Grab 'N' Go Challenge Final - sponsored by SchoolGrid
Hall 2 Foyer

12.00-14.30

Lunch & exhibition viewing Halls 1 & 2
School Food Live - Hall 1

12.15

Bang in the Beanz demo TBC

13.15

School Food Live, Hall 1: Showcase Demo 
Amber Francis, Great British Menu, Champion of Champions and Head Chef, Christ’s College Finchley 

For a school chef to be named as the Great British Menu ‘Champion of Champions’ is an indictment of the skills across the school food sector.  The School Food People are delighted that Amber has agreed to come and provide a food demo, chat and take questions at this year’s School Food Show.

14.15

Partner with the School Food People Demo 

14.15-15.45

School Chef of the Year Final - Heat 2
Hall 2 Foyer (View competition schedule)

16.00

Introduction to The School Food Show & Forum 2026 including the Year in Focus - Phil Raynsford, Forum chair  

16.10

Chair’s welcome - Brad Pearce, The School Food People national chair 

After welcoming everyone to the 2026 School Food Show & Forum, Brad will update everyone on the work of the association over the previous 12 months and outline key issues and challenges.  He will be followed by School Food People Ambassadors Nadim & Tanya Ednan-Laperouse OBE, who will give an overview of the progress made by Natasha’s Allergy Research Foundation.  

16.30

17.15

Forum day one closes

19.30

Informal icebreaker evening, Kings Suite

8.30

Forum delegate registration opens - hotel and hall 2 foyers
School Food Show - exhibition opens, hall 1 and hall 2

9.30

School Food Show & Forum sessions day two start including the Year in Focus 2025/6 –  Kings Suite 
Welcome from Forum Chair – Phil Raynsford 

9.45 - 11.15

School Chef of the Year Final - Heat 3
Hall 2 Foyer (View competition schedule)

9.45

Working with our educator colleagues - TBC

Feeding 1000+ children a healthy and nutritious meal in 40 minutes is a challenge for the whole school not just the catering operation.  This can then be multiplied out many times across a MAT.  This session will look at the challenges, the importance of the service and of a whole school approach to a full integration 

Rise Research Update - Dr Sara Long, Research Fellow, Cardiff University 

Last year Dr Long shared with the School food People the work she was doing on Reducing Inequalitiesin the School Food Environment (RISE).  The results from WP1 - mapping primary school food systems across four areas of the UK, and findings from WP2,  understanding food choice and consumption patterns for primary-age children are now available and Sara will share what has been learnt so far. 

DfE Update 

The Department for Education have had a big focus on the school food service since the change of government in July 2024.  They will update delegates on the breakfast pilots, the review of school food standards and the upcoming expansion of free school meals linked to Universal credit.    

Role of the Scottish Food Commission in school food - Jayne Jones, CEO, Scottish Food Commission

As a new body looking at food strategy in Scotland there will be an inevitable focus and impact on school food.  Jayne, a former head of catering in a Scottish local authority, will share her initial thoughts and ideas on what impact the commission would like to have. 

The Welsh Manifesto - Judith Gregory, Education Catering Business Manager, Cardiff Council and Immediate Past Chair, The School Food People 

The May Senedd elections in Wales could have a significant impact on the school food service.  Judithe will give an overview of the potential impacts, including the rolling out UFSM in secondary schools and the review of healthy eating regulations. 

Successful Strategies – Colm Bradley, Marketing & Brand Manager, EANI

Education Authority of Northern Ireland have executed many successful service and marketing strategies since covid.  Colm will share some of the successes with the hope that people will plagiarise and benefit form their learnings.

12.15

Lunch and exhibition viewing including School Food Live in Hall 1
School Food Live - Hall 1 

12.00

Partner with The School Food People Demo - TBC

12.45

School Food Live - Hall 1: Grab 'N' Go Winner sponsored by SchoolGrid

The annual ‘Grab & Go competition will take place on Tuesday 7^th July.  The winner will demonstrate their winning dish to visitors and delegates whilst chatting with the hosts and taking questions from the audience.

13.15-14.45

School Chef of the Year Final - Heat Hall 2 Foyer (View competition schedule)

Showcase Demo - Matt Tebbutt 

As the host of Saturday Kitchen for many years and now of Masterchef the Professionals, Matt is one of the most familiar and popular chefs on TV. Supported by the Grab & Go winner he will demo a dish that can be adapted to be used in the school food service whilst sharing stories and anecdotes from his career.

14.45

Forum sessions resume - Kings Suite

TBC

DRS – Are you ready for October 2027? - Chris Sanders, Sales & Marketing Director, Radnor Hills 

The deposit return scheme seems to have been a topic of conversation for a decade or more, however, it will now launch in October 2027.  Chris will explain how the scheme is going to work, why it is being introduced, what service providers need to do to prepare for it and the challenges you might face. 

Keynote: A whistlestop tour of AI and robotics - Spencer Kelly 

Spencer has been hosting conferences, chairing panels, and presenting keynotes on tech around the world for almost 20 years. He has interviewed some of the biggest names in the business, including Bill Gates, Steve Wozniak, director James Cameron, Vint Cerf, Tim Berners-Lee, music legends Paul McCartney, Will.I.Am and Brian Eno, security threats Edward Snowden and Julian Assange, national treasures David Attenborough and Stephen Fry, and even talked tech with HM The Queen.

Spencer’s life-long love affair with technology has allowed him to write, direct and present hundreds of short films, and seen him win Tech Personality of the Year, lose Celebrity Mastermind (by a whisker), be awarded an honorary doctorate of Technology, front Panorama and present at the BAFTAs.

16.45

Forum day two closes, exhibition ends.

19.00

Drinks Reception, Pavillion Suite

19.30

Awards for Excellence Dinner, Kings Suite