City Food & Drink Lecture announce keynote speaker and 2025 date. The organisers of the City Food & Drink Lecture are pleased to announce that John Shropshire OBE, Chairman of G’s Group, will be the keynote speaker for the 2025 event. This prestigious gathering will take place on Tuesday 11th March 2025, at London’s iconic Guildhall.
John Shropshire, who holds a BSc Hons in Agriculture from Newcastle University, joined the family farming and marketing business in 1976. Under his leadership, G’s has evolved into one of Europe’s foremost fresh produce companies producing quality salads, vegetables and added value produce in the UK, Spain, Central Europe, Senegal, and the USA. The company boasts a turnover of £720 million, delivering over 20 million packs of produce weekly and employing around 9,500 people globally.
With a deep commitment to enhancing standards within the food and farming industry, John is a founding member of both the Modern Slavery Intelligence Network (MSIN) and The Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH). He also chaired the Independent Review into Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain, addressing critical issues that affect the industry today.
John Shropshire commented:
“It is a great honour to be invited to deliver this lecture, especially considering the distinguished speakers who have come before me. The challenges facing the future of farming and the role of family businesses are more pressing than ever, and I look forward to contributing to this important dialogue.”
Allan Wilkinson, Chair of the City Food & Drink Lecture, added,:
“We are thrilled to welcome John Shropshire as our keynote speaker for 2025. It’s hugely important to hear the voice of a business that champions farming and look at the opportunities and challenges facing the industry today from a fresh produce business perspective, particularly when so much of the food industry has been taken up by ‘ultra processed foods’ and ‘high fat, sugar and salt’ debates.’’
About the City Food & Drink Lecture
Now in its 24th year and held annually at London’s Guildhall, the City Food & Drink Lecture is one of the most prestigious events in the industry’s calendar and is supported by premium sponsor, Rathbones Investment Management. It is organised jointly by eight of the City of London livery companies involved in the agriculture, food and drink sectors: the Worshipful Companies of Bakers, Butchers, Cooks, Distillers, Farmers, Fishmongers, Fruiterers and Poulters. It typically brings together 700 industry leaders, academics and members of the eight Livery companies.
Sponsors:
Rathbones, ABP, UK Agri Tech Centre, Anpario, Compass Group UK & I, Eden Search, Fresh Produce Journal, Gusbourne’s, HSBC, Lockton, New England Seafood, Noble Foods, OrchardWorld, Roythornes, Saffery, Sunny Side Up Comms.
About G’s Group of Companies:
Established By Guy S Shropshire in Cambridgeshire in 1952, G’s has grown into one of the world’s leading family-owned, fully integrated fresh produce companies. Now farming >14,000 ha of salads and vegetables across the UK, Europe and Africa, producing over 1.2bn packs of produce, G’s ensure year-round supply to major UK, European and US retailers.
G’s is fully vertically integrated from seed-to-shelf, with full control of standards right through the chain, maintaining trust and providing customers with the quality they demand.
G’s remains a family business with strong values for its people, its customers and its suppliers, as well as respect for the environment and nature. G’s has exported British technical, health and safety, ethical standards and world-leading innovation across the globe.