The Worshipful Company of Butchers and City Livery Events

The City Food & Drink Lecture, now in its 24th year is an annual, invitation-only high-profile fixture in the City of London and international food and drink industry calendars. The Lecture is delivered each year by a leading figure in the food business who is invited to speak about the issues they regard as the most important in shaping the way food and drink is produced, distributed, marketed, sold and consumed. 

Title: Preparing to farm for 2040, with success.

Keynote speaker: John Shropshire OBE, Chairman of G's Group

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.’’

Interactive Q&A Panel:

Jack A Bobo - Centre Lead and Director of Food Systems Institute, University of Nottingham

Sarah Bradbury - CEO of IGD (Institute of Grocery Distribution)

Henry Dimbleby - Co-founder of the Leon restaurant chain lead and non-executive board member of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (2018 – 2023)

Panel Chair: Charlotte Smith  - Presenter - BBC Radio 4’s Farming Today. BBC 1’s Countryfile 

More speakers info

Timings:

• 17:30 Doors Open
• 18:35 Welcome, Lecture, and Panel Session
• 20:30 Buffet Supper
• 21:45 Event Concludes

Important booking info

Registration

Kindly note that all guests to CFDL25 are by invitation only. The link below should only be used by Liverymen and their guests and must not be passed on.

Register your place to attend the City Food & Drink Lecture 2025 at Guildhall, London by following this link:

Link to CFDL 2025 Registration Portal using the passcode: CFDL2025!

(Note: It’s best to copy and paste the passcode to avoid errors. If typing manually, make sure the exclamation mark! is included. 

Cost

There is a cost of £68 + VAT per person, which includes the hot buffet supper with drinks and will be invoiced directly by WCB. Please note we only have 40 tickets allocated to us.

Registration closes Wednesday 26th February 2025, or earlier if capacity is reached.

The link will take you to Eventbrite to make your online booking. Please read the booking notes below.

BOOKING NOTES

1. Navigate through to the Eventbrite registration page and select Butchers’ Company and Guests from the list. Although the website states that the tickets are free, WCB will charge you as previously advised.

2.   Follow the instructions ensuring you enter all your details and those of your guest (s) accurately as this is what will appear on all correspondence and in the guest list. There are additional questions regarding dietaries and name of the person who invited you (the latter is for your guests completing the form themselves).

3.    An immediate confirmation email will be sent to you with your ticket. Before you leave the registration site, check to see if you have received this. We advise you to also check in spam if you can’t see it.

4. Provided you select to agree to your details being used by the organisers of the CFDL, you will then be sent further information about the event as well as your entry pass into Guildhall.

Book now