2022
Ash Amirahmadi, Managing Director of Arla Foods headlined the 21st City Food Lecture
Ash Amirahmadi
‘Food’s Defining Decade: Finding a way to feed the world while protecting the planet’
“Arla Foods is one of the biggest dairy companies in the world, with an annual turnover of some €10 billion. As a cooperatively owned business, they have some 9,200 farmers in Denmark, Sweden, Germany and the UK. The UK is their single biggest market, where they have over 2,000 farmer members. They are also highly active in the Middle East, West Africa, the US, China and SE Asia.
Arla has a very strong commitment to the sustainability of how their products are produced. They are involved in many product areas, ranging from liquid milk to branded consumer products and functional food ingredients. Ash has featured regularly on television and other forms of media in the recent 18 months commenting on both Brexit and the COVID pandemic
Ash Amirahmadi said “I am honoured to be part of the City Food Lecture. It’s an incredibly well thought of event and one that I have admired for years. Having worked in the industry for over 20 years and having a passion for agriculture, food and sustainability.
After delivering his lecture, Ash then joined the panel discussion between James Lloyd -Jones Founder & CEO of Jones Food Co. Richard Clothier MD of Wyke Farms, Fraser McKevitt Head of Retail & Consumer Insight, Kantar and chaired by Charlotte Smith of BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today and BBC 1’s Countryfile.
To view the full 2022 Lecture, click here: https://vimeo.com/682808265
To view the photographs, click here: https://philmccarthyphotography.smugmug.com/City-Food-Lecture-2022/
2022 Highlights Video
The City Food Lecture includes many components – from the networking amongst the invited guests, the excellent lecture and panel session and ensuing q and a’s, the tasty buffet supper, the Future Generation Forum involving students and lecturers from key food and agri colleges across the UK, appreciated support and participation from our sponsors and above all, the perceptive closing address from HRH The Princess Royal.. and all in the glorious setting of Guildhall in the City of London.
Our highlights video encapsulates a flavour of the evening with comment from a cross section of attendees.
2021
The 2021 City Food Lecture,to reflect the current times, was delivered virtually by Mel Smith CBE, CEO of Ocado Retail the world’s largest dedicated online supermarket.
‘The role of new technology in the future of UK food retailing’.
The City Food Lecture 2021 Pre Lecture Content
The 2021 City Food Lecture held virtually began with pre lecture footage featuring comment from industry thought leaders including Dr David Hughes, Minette Batters, Ian Wright, Nigel Barden and Prue Leith as well as from our seven food livery Masters and Clerks. Due to coronavirus restrictions, all are recorded from kitchens, offices, living rooms and … fields so do excuse the quality of sound or vision in some.
Paul Stockton, CEO of Rathbones, our Premium Sponsor then introduces the 2021 event.
Link to Video
The City Food Lecture 2021, Panel and HRH The Princess Royal
Once the virtual event got underway, our virtual viewers were welcomed to the City Food Lecture 2021 by Alderman William Russell The Rt.Hon. The Lord Mayor of London. The keynote speaker, Mel Smith, CEO of Ocado Retail then delivered the 2021 City Food Lecture after which she joined the panel discussion between Charlie Bigham, Laura Winningham and James Walton chaired by Charlotte Smith. Then followed a q and a session with the audience. The event concluded with a closing address from HRH The Princess Royal – always the highlight of the City Food Lecture.
Link to Video.
2021 Highlights Video
2021 Full Video
For our picture gallery, please click here.
2021
Mel Smith
Chief Executive, Ocado Retail
Trust & Tech – Future of Food
See our short Highlights Video
2020
Professor Fresco
President of the Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research,
Fish nor Flesh or Both? Foods for the future.
Professor Fresco, President of the Executive Board of Wageningen University & Research, Europe’s leading academic agri-food organisation and research and development centre.
2019
Dominic Blakemore
Chief Executive, Compass Group
Trust & Tech – Future of Food
See our short Highlights Video
2018
Dave Lewis
Chief Executive, Tesco
Supplier Partnerships & The Future of Food
2017
Professor Chris Elliott
Queen’s University Belfast
Does it Matter Where Our Food Comes From?
Due to family circumstances, Professor Chris Elliot was sadly unable to deliver the Lecture. He was ably replaced by Michael Bell, Executive Director of NI Food & Drink Association who delivered it on his behalf.
2016
Christophe Jouan
Chief Executive, The Future Food Foundation
What, when and how will we be eating in 2025?
| 2015 | Richard Evans President, PepsiCo | The responsiblity of the food industry for improving the Nation’s health |
| 2014 | Charles Wilson Chief Executive, Booker | Growth outside the supermarkets |
| 2013 | Paul Bulcke Chief Executive Officer, Nestle | Water – the linchpin of food security |
| 2012 | Justin King Chief Executive Officer, Sainsbury’s | UK Grocery Retailing – back to the future |
| 2011 | Paul Polman Director and Chief Executive Officer, Unilever | Food security in a changing climate |
| 2010 | Sir David King Director, Smith School of Enterprise and the Environment, University of Oxford | Managing the earths resources to deliver food for nine billion |
| 2009 | Sir Terry Leahy Chief Executive, Tesco | Consumers, competition and a changing world |
| 2008 | Lord Haskins Government advisor on food and farming | Are the Malthusian chickens coming home to roost |
| 2007 | Lord Peter Mechett Policy Director, Soil Association | Food and values – the organic future |
| 2005 | John Sunderland Chairman of Cadbury Schweppes | The role of food in public health |
| 2004 | Sir Francis Mackay Chairman of the Compass Group | Changing the menu |
| 2003 | Sir John Krebs Chairman of the Food Standards Agency | Protecting consumers in the future world market |
| 2002 | Niall Fitzgerald Chariman of Unilever | Facing the future – the UK food industry in a changing world |
| 2001 | Peter Blackburn Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Nestle | The UK food chain – making life better |
City Food & Drink Lecture 