P2P Food Solutions has written pieces for Fine Food Digest and Speciality Food Magazine and consults for several food brands including Tyrrells Crisps, Australian Wagyu, Silver and Green Olives, Piltons Cider and Granny Gothards Ice cream. Simon also works with a number of local authorities looking at healthy alternatives for their school meals offering.

Hari is an Indian cook, author and the founder of the biggest Indian food digital platform in the UK. Her website and social platforms feature hundreds of easy to follow recipes, videos, articles and live weekly cooking sessions that attract a global audience. The Hari Ghotra community App is a real time location with a thriving community of food lovers who share pictures and ideas, it’s a place Hari communicates with her followers daily. She is also the food and beverage development manager for Virgin Atlantic leading creating menus on all inbound routes and managing over twenty catering units across the world.

Vhari Russell is the founder of The Food Marketing Experts, a full-service agency specializing in food and drink. She has over 20 years of experience in marketing, PR, and social media. She has worked for companies such as Winterbotham Darby, developing products for the multiples, through to sales and account management for smaller more artisan brands, looking after accounts such as Harrods, Liberty, Waitrose, and Boots. Since setting up The Food Marketing Experts over 10 years ago, she and her team have worked to grow brands such as Warner's Gin and Seggiano. Vhari has a wealth of experience in developing brands and fully understands what needs to be done to support sales and continued growth. She is also the founder of Grub Club Events, a multi-award-winning networking group for the food and drink industry. It is a must for anyone in the industry and offers a great platform to come together over great food and drink.

Heerum Fleary is the founder of TickEat, established in 2015 after a career in airline catering. TickEat specialises in helping food and beverage brands enter the travel, leisure, and hospitality sectors, offering strategic partnerships for placement in airlines, trains, cruise ships, and hotels. 

John has been involved in selecting, procuring and retailing great food and drink for 15 years with Booths. In this time John has experienced the arrival and emergence of some wonderful food and drink brands and is always keen to support and encourage new and exciting products to market. With a wealth of experience in food and drink awards judging, John is looking forward to judging the Product Awards again this year. 

A seasoned industry and awards judge Nicki is the co-founder and Director of Diverse Fine Food. Nicki has spent over 15 years in the F&B industry as a food buyer and has a special interest in great branding, origin and ethics.

Nicki is a has been a Dragon on the Farm, Shop & deli Show's Dragons Pantry for over 8 years sharing her passion for new producers and insight to help new brands flourish.

Nicki is an experienced judge of several industry awards including Great Taste Awards, Nourish Awards and the Farm Shop & Deli Product Awards. She brings extensive experience from the food & beverage industry with the latest insights and eye for innovation and great taste.

Radley is one of the Directors of award-winning Moseley Farmers’ Market. He joined MFM in 2019 as a passionate supporter. On weekdays, Radley is a TV Producer with the BBC and at weekends he helps to run MFM. Last year MFM celebrated 24 years of proudly running a successful market and also picked up its 4th FARMA ‘Best in UK’ award, the only Farmers’ Market to have won four times. This monthly market has up to 60 stalls and has put Moseley Village firmly on the map, so much so that it was judged ‘Sunday Times Best Place to Live’ in 2015. Due to its FRA accreditation, MFM is guaranteeing quality and locality of fresh produce. With thousands of visitors throughout the year, our little ‘village in a city’ is now a destination of high reputation. Radley proudly now sits on Farm Retail Association Council - bringing all his knowledge & expertise on making the Farmers Market platform better for all FMS’. Including having access to the World Farmers’ Market Coalition.

“Most of my career I have been involved in product research and design. I have been a food judge for many years and trained National Federation of Women's Institutes Cookery and Preserves Judges in a professional qualification. I have written and published cookery books. I am a food coach for Foodwise charity. I enjoy research food and compiling recipes. Always happy when cooking especially something new.”

Laura has over twenty years experience in buying and started out as a Buyer’s Assistant at Safeway. She has brought lots of categories from chilled, bakery and ambient grocery. Laura has a real passion for food and loves discovering new brands and products.

With over 30 years’ hospitality management experience Grahame entered the speciality & fine food sector when he and business partner Richard Fennell (now Commercial Director at The Gorgeous Food Company) opened their delicatessen in 2008.

Whilst owning the deli, Grahame and Richard were asked by one of their suppliers if they could support them with some wholesale distribution, and the duo started wholesaling tea to cafes, coffee shops and other delicatessens.

In 2013 they decided to sell the deli to concentrate on wholesale distribution and The Gorgeous Food Company was born.

Ten years later with a range of over 1700 products, The Gorgeous Food Company is going from strength to strength supplying delicatessens, farm shops and independent food stores across the UK.

With over 15 years of experience in the food and drink sector, Nikki Castley brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise to her role as Commercial Manager at Cress Co. Her previous roles include nine years as part of the buying team for Dobbies Garden Centres.

Since joining Cress Co in 2012, Nikki has been instrumental in implementing the company's growth and margin strategy while heading up the Buying and Purchasing teams. Under her leadership, the company’s product range and distribution coverage have expanded significantly. Enhancing The Cress Co brand and increasing its market awareness have been central to her role.

The Cress Co holds the esteemed title of the No. 1 Distributor in the UK, as voted by the readers of Fine Food Digest, a testament to the dedication and hard work of the entire team. Nikki takes great pride in contributing to this achievement.

Co-Founder & Director at Diverse Fine Food (@diversefinefood), New Zealander, Ironman, Sport Enthusiast, Food Judge, Seed Fund Mentor and always searching for amazing Artisan products! Mark has a background working for global manufacturers with well know global brands over the past 30 years.

Mark is an experienced judge of several industry awards including Great Taste Awards, Nourish Awards and the Farm Shop & Deli Product Awards. He brings extensive experience from the food & beverage industry with the latest insights and eye for quality and innovation.

Jo is a knowledgeable, respected and highly productive senior commercial marketing professional - dynamic, inquisitive, considerate and well-organised.

She has three decades of experience in the food and drink industry from FTSE 100 organisations through to start-ups and scaling businesses working at executive level and has spent time working with and within the biggest UK supermarket. Jo champions local food and enjoys being a judge for both Taste of the West food group and The Great Taste Awards.

Eleanor O’Brien, the Managing Director of National Craft Butchers (NCB), joined the organization in 2018, bringing a wealth of experience in operations, retail, and hospitality management. Eleanor was the winner of the Woman in Meat Awards Trade Body category in 2021 and we are thrilled to have her on our judging panel for the Farm Shop & Deli Product Awards this year.

David has spent more than thirty years in food manufacturing, working with all sizes of business from solo entrepreneurs to big food. He worked at executive level from procurement through manufacturing to distribution, as well as managing new product development and quality. He co-founded Cert B Corp Maia Growth Partners to help independent local food businesses access the skills, knowledge and expertise they need to build a sustainable and resilient brand.

Indy Kaur is the CEO and founder of Plant Futures, leading UK strategic consultancy and insights partner plant-based businesses. Plant Futures works closely with UK retailers sharing the latest news in innovation and insights, as well as supporting plant-based businesses looking to launch and grow in the UK market. Indy has over 18 years experience in the food industry, having launched new products through to building growth strategies with a real passion for food!

Casually known as the Duchess of Doughnuts, Amy is responsible for leading and developing all aspects of British Baker’s editorial coverage, from breaking online news to in-depth features and analyses. She has over a decade of experience as a journalist, many of which have been spent at British Baker.

Emma Mosey is a co-owner of Minskip Farm Shop and Yolk Farm and a key figure in the farm retail industry. With a strong passion for sustainable farming and local produce, Emma's leadership and vision have earned her recognition in the sector, contributing to her active involvement with the Farm Retail Association where she advocates for farm shops and independent retailers across the UK.

Geoff Barton is the General Manager of Canalside Farm Shop.

Starting as a small roadside shed 40 years ago, Canalside Farm has grown into a vibrant hub for retail, dining, and events. This transformation was recognized in the 2023 Farm Shop & Deli Retailer Awards, showcasing the farm's success in the industry.

Sarah has worked in the food and drink industry for the last decade. During that time, she has sourced gift food and drink for Fenwick, worked with artisan producers supplying farm shops and garden centres across the UK, and more recently in developing exclusive own brand food and drink ranges.

"Becoming a chef was a natural career for me as my main passion is food at whatever level; cooking at home, street food or fine dining it has to be right. My roles have reflected my love of food working with independent as well as national caterers in both operational and food development roles.

Following Jamie Oliver’s focus on school food, I took the role of Food Director for Cucina Restaurants, managing a small number of highly skilled chefs through mobilisations of new clients and schools.  When the business sold, I transferred for a period of time and began planning what’s next.. I had always said I would love to open either a cookery school or a deli, and my dream became a reality when we opened the doors to Kitchen Food Company in Summertown, Oxford, a delicatessen with an on-site bistro. Having always grown at home, this gave me the opportunity to grow more and use these items for the deli. Creating a full range of our own branded products on the shelves from the garden really is a dream come true. Working with small local suppliers as well as securing Daylesford Organic has helped us quickly become a popular choice on our Oxford High Street. 

Our first accolade came after just 6 months of trading, winning "Best Deli in Buckinghamshire & Oxford" and then winning "Best Small Retailer" in our region at the Farm Shop & Deli Show 2023."

Dan brings more than 15 years of professional writing experience to the British Baker editorial team. In addition to writing news articles and long-read features, he has helped enhance the digital content of the publication with his graphic design and video editing skills, contributing to its rise in readership and engagement across various channels.

Rachel is a passionate and skilled home-baker, bringing her love for baking and a sharp eye for detail to the judging panel. Based in Nottinghamshire, she plays a key role in her husband‘s family Farm, managing the Farm office and their thriving storage business. Her baking journey began with making birthday cakes for friends and family, sparking a deep interest and allowing her to develop her skills and knowledge over time.

Rachel recently earned her qualification as a cookery judge through the newly accredited Association of Show and Competition Judges, combining her expertise and enthusiasm for the art of baking. Beyond her love of baking, Rachel is deeply committed to her community. Among other things, she has been part of a team raising substantial funds for the Nottingham Hospitals Charity, she actively supports the Lincs and Notts Air Ambulance by fundraising through the Notts Air Ambulance Countryside Appeal (NAACA) group, and she is working closely with Nottinghamshire Young Farmers Clubs, with whom she met her now husband over 30 years ago.

Claire Mortimer is one of the original founders of Fabulous Farm Shops, a comprehensive online directory dedicated to connecting farm shops and local producers with customers across the UK, including Ireland, Scotland, and Wales. The platform promotes local shopping by providing detailed listings of farm shops, their products, delivery options, and events. It aims to support and highlight British produce, fostering a community of local food enthusiasts and producers.

We are thrilled to have Claire on our judging panel this year. 

Iain Hemming is the owner of the Salt. Deli Kitchen and is a returning judge to the Farm Shop & Deli Product Awards judging panel.

Established in 2022 as a sister site to Thyme & Tides in Stockbridge, Salt. Deli Kitchen was created with the vision of offering a warm and relaxed deli and café experience in Firsdown, near Salisbury on the A30.  Thyme & Tides was rebranded earlier this year, leading to the launch of Salt. Deli Kitchen and marking a fresh new beginning for the business.

Emma Bagley is the Founder and CEO of ZEAL Agency, established in 2021 to address the growing demand for client-focused, full-service marketplace solutions. With extensive experience in U.S.-based Amazon agencies, Emma launched ZEAL to offer a partnership-driven approach to businesses navigating the marketplace.

We are looking forward to Emma returning to our judging panel this year following her first appearance on the judging panel for the 2024 Product Awards. 

Jason Smith is a foodservice consultant for The Food Strategist and is a returning judge for the Farm Shop & Deli Product Awards. 

As a food & drink business consultant and sales representative, Michaela helps predominantly Central European companies to grow their sales and presence in the UK (and vice versa; UK companies in Central Europe). Her core competencies include business consultancy, market research, marketing support, packaging advice, lead generation, sales, exhibition planning (project management), recipe creation, translation and editing, and the general account management. Michaela is passionate about connecting businesses with customers across cultures and borders and about creating value for both parties.

Mel lives and works across her family farms in Nottinghamshire and Norfolk. She is the Director of Allen Clark Farming Ltd, a company primarily focused on the cultivation of carrots, cereals, and sugar beet. Additionally, the farm is a member of the Fresh Growers cooperative, which is responsible for producing the world’s first carbon-neutral carrots. With a background in Home Economics, Mel initially trained and demonstrated microwave technology for Panasonic and Jones & Brother. She later managed a tea room and farm shop on the family’s farm park tourist attraction. Throughout her career, Mel has maintained a strong passion for food, particularly for sourcing products from local farmers and producers. Recently, she furthered her expertise by completing a cookery judging course and has had the opportunity to judge at various agricultural and village shows.