Wednesday 20 May 2026
9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Shoreditch Exchange
The Startup Summit by Bread & Jam is a one day, high impact event designed to help early stage food & drink and FMCG brands secure their first retail listings, grow their customer base and scale with confidence.
Taking place on 20 May 2026 in London, the Summit brings together 300+ challenger brands, retailers, distributors and industry experts and is powered by GS1 UK.
Why attend the Startup Summit?
The Startup Summit is built specifically for brands at the start of their growth journey. It combines practical learning, curated networking and real retail opportunities to give founders the support they need to move faster and avoid common pitfalls.
At the Startup Summit 2026, you can:
• Connect with 300+ emerging FMCG brands and like minded founders
• Meet retail buyers and distributors actively looking for new products
• Gain practical, actionable advice from experienced founders and industry leaders
• Take part in structured pitching, feedback and networking opportunities
• Learn what it really takes to become retail ready and scalable
What’s happening on the day
The event programme is designed to support startup brands at every stage, with multiple ways to get involved:
- Get listed: pitching zone
Private 1 to 1 meetings with speciality buyers, including retailers such as Selfridges, Whole Foods Market and Planet Organic (application required) - Pitch perfect
A live, on stage pitching opportunity where selected brands present to a panel of expert buyers and judges - The Producers’ table
A chance to showcase your product and receive valuable, constructive feedback from industry experts - Unrivalled networking
Meet buyers, distributors, investors and fellow founders who can help accelerate your growth