Celebrating Women In The Food Industry: Three IWD 2026 Panels at MM Mayfair

International Women’s Day 2026 at Mercato Mayfair - 📅 2 March | 10am – 6.30pm

🌸 We’re back and we’d love you to join us.

🍽️ To mark International Women’s Day 2026, Women in the Food Industry returns to the beautiful Mercato Mayfair with three inspiring panel discussions and a mini food fair celebrating female-founded food businesses.

🏛️ Set in a stunning Grade I listed former church, this full-day event brings together women from across the food world to share ideas, experiences and lessons learned - the good, the challenging and everything in between.

🌍 From exploring what the future of food really looks like, to opening up the realities of getting a food book published, through to growing a food business with integrity, these sessions are designed to be open, practical and genuinely useful. Each panel runs for two hours, giving space for real conversation, audience questions and shared learning - all aligned with #GiveToGain.

What attendees can expect:

✨ Big-picture thinking on food, nutrition and global systems
📚 Real talk about food writing, publishing and storytelling
🌱 Honest insights on building and scaling food brands with authenticity
🤝 Great food, great company, and the chance to discover exciting female-led food businesses

10:30 – 12:30 | The Future of Food
What does the future hold for the food industry? Leading nutritionists, nutritional therapists and food experts explore key shifts shaping what and how we eat. Topics include weight-loss drugs, personalised nutrition, ultra-processed food, Big Food’s response to change, food culture, global food systems and emerging trends from the USA and beyond.

12:30 – 14:00 | Lunch & Mini Food Fair
Buy lunch from an offering of international cuisines made with fresh, sustainable ingredients at Mercato Mayfair. Then discover and sample products from our curated selection of female-founded food & drinks brands.

Including

Louisa's Honey - Award winning honey

Ramtang - Lemon & Lime Citrus Liqueurs

Ka Na Homecooked - Authentic Award winning curry base!

Dapur Mariae - Award winning Malaysian cooking sauces

The Garden of Eva - Award winning preserves made from watermelon rind

Little Big Flavour Kits - Award winning Sri Lankan curry spice kits

Bhangra Blends - South Asian drinks brand redefining cocktails and mocktails

Earthnutz - Award Winning Peanut Protein Crisps

Luxwells - Award winning botanical infused water beverages

The Persian Kitchen - Award winning flavours from the Middle East

and more to be announced

14:00 – 16:00 | How Easy Is It to Get a Book Published?
From cookbooks to food memoirs and fiction, explore food writing as both a revenue stream and a powerful branding tool. Meet published authors who share what it really takes to succeed in the competitive world of food and recipe publishing.

16:00 – 16:30 | Afternoon Break
More time to explore the mini female founded food fair.

16:30 – 18:30 | Growth with Authenticity
Whether you’re nurturing an idea or scaling an established food business, learn how to grow without losing your values. Hear from women who have built successful food brands and non-profits, sharing the lessons, challenges and breakthroughs behind sustainable growth.