Best Startup
At Best Startup UK we track over 130,000 UK startups and over 500,000 people who hold key positions in these companies. We use this directory of startups to highlight top employees, founders and board members we think deserve more appreciation than they are currently getting.
This list showcases the top London based Director operating in the Food and Beverage space. If you think a Director is missing from this list, feel free to contact our editor on editor@beststartup.co.uk.
The individuals on this list have been included because of exceptional performance in one of the following categories:
- Innovation – Operating as a key part in an extremely innovative business or startup.
- Growth – Operating as a key figure in the growth and upscale of a market leading business or startup.
- Management – Showing exceptional management skills.
- Societal impact – Putting their business on the map for their positive societal or environmental impact.
Our Data – We source our data from OSINT (open source intelligence) and public directories such as Companies House UK, Crunchbase, SemRush and many more. The data from these sources should be treated with a degree of caution and verified yourself.
Abel Campos
Director of Franchising of McDonald’s
Abel was appointed Head of Franchising for McDonald’s UK in October 2016, following a successful 20 year career with the brand spanning Operations and Franchising. He joined the business in 1997, progressing from a local restaurant team to overseeing a number of restaurants as a Consultant in the region. Abel worked in a number of roles throughout the southern region before being promoted to the position of Director of Franchising responsible for ensuring high standards of operational excellence across his group. Abel now heads up the UK franchising strategy and is also responsible for the recruitment of new franchisees.
Follow Abel Campos:
About McDonald’s: McDonald’s is a global foodservice retailer generating revenue through company-owned restaurants, franchise royalties, and licensing pacts.
_______
Claire Hennah
Global Ecommerce Director of Unilever
Claire Hennah is the Global Ecommerce Director – Beauty and Personal Care at Unilever.
Follow Claire Hennah:
About Unilever: Unilever produces and supplies fast-moving consumer goods in food, home, and personal care product categories worldwide.
Sunando Das
CMI Director, Predictive Marketing and Shopping Analytics of Unilever
Follow Sunando Das:
About Unilever: Unilever produces and supplies fast-moving consumer goods in food, home, and personal care product categories worldwide.
Mario Dughi
Digital Marketing & Innovations Director, Home Care Category of Unilever
Follow Mario Dughi:
About Unilever: Unilever produces and supplies fast-moving consumer goods in food, home, and personal care product categories worldwide.
Emily O’Brien
Global Director of Unilever
Follow Emily O’Brien:
About Unilever, Unilever: Unilever produces and supplies fast-moving consumer goods in food, home, and personal care product categories worldwide.
Nigel Wray
Non-Executive Director of Domino’s Pizza
Nigel Wray is a highly successful entrepreneur, and has been a shareholder in several companies amongst others, Domino’s Pizza, Carlton Communications and Singer & Friedlander. He also has a strong commercial background built in a range of business sectors. Saracens does a lot of excellent work in its local, north London community. Nigel still calls the area home, too – having attended Mill Hill School, he now lives in Totteridge.
Follow Nigel Wray:
About Domino’s Pizza: Domino’s is the recognized world leader in pizza delivery.
Helen Bowey
Retail Director of Rhubarb
Helen has over 20 years’ experience in the food and beverage industry. Since joining rhubarb in 1998, she has overseen a number of different departments, accumulating a wealth of experience in all fields including Operations, Human Resources, Finance, Marketing, Health and Safety, Purchasing and IT. Helen was appointed as a board member in 2003 and was instrumental in the development of Sky Garden, Pilots at Terminal 5 and the recently announced Centre Point project. In her role as Chief Development Officer Helen is responsible for growth within the current portfolio of locations, and new acquisitions both in the UK and Internationally.
Follow Helen Bowey:
About Rhubarb: Rhubarb is a food company that creates and delivers culinary services.
Katie Harel
Director of Marketing of Rhubarb
Katie Harel has over 15 years experience in marketing in luxury hotels, food and beverage in London including The Dorchester and The Lanesborough. Prior to rhubarb Katie was based in Hong Kong where she held senior marketing positions at Mandarin Oriental Hotel Group and The Langham, before working as director at Mango PR’s first Hong Kong office. Katie joined the rhubarb team in 2014 and quickly implemented a group marketing plan and brand strategy to ensure the rhubarb name is front of mind across the group. In her first year Katie opened the hugely successful Sky Garden, garnering impressive press coverage across national and international titles and quickly building an impressive database. Katie’s team includes the Creative Department who are responsible for ensuring that every rhubarb event and partnership is expertly thought out and creatively considered. Katie works closely with the Director team ensuring the marketing plan equally supports events and locations and that rhubarb maintains its position as a pioneer of the food and events industry.
Follow Katie Harel:
About Rhubarb: Rhubarb is a food company that creates and delivers culinary services.
Anna C. Catalano
Board of Director of Mead Johnson Nutrition
Ms. Catalano, age 54, joined the Board on July 21, 2006 and currently serves as a member of the Company’s Governance Committee and Compensation Committee. She was Group Vice President, Marketing for BP plc from 2001 to 2003. Prior to that she held various executive positions at BP and Amoco, including Group Vice President, Emerging Markets at BP; Senior Vice President, Sales and Operations at Amoco; and President of Amoco Orient Oil Company. She currently serves on the Board and the Governance Committee of Mead Johnson Nutrition and Chemtura Corporation and the Compensation Committees of Mead Johnson Nutrition, Chemtura Corporation and Kraton Performance Polymers. She serves on the Executive Committee of the Houston Chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association and serves as a director on the National Board of the Alzheimer’s Association. Ms. Catalano formerly served on the boards of SSL International plc, Hercules Incorporated, Aviva plc and U.S. Dataworks and as an advisory board member of BT Global Services. Ms. Catalano holds a BS degree in Business Administration from the University of Illinois, Champaign-Urbana.
Follow Anna C. Catalano:
About : Mead Johnson Nutrition manufactures and sells infant formula, children’s nutrition, and other nutritional products.
Kim Ludlow
Managing Director of mySupermarket
Follow Kim Ludlow:
About mySupermarket: mySupermarket designs a supermarket shopping and comparison website that helps users to compare prices across different stores.
Jamie Crummie
Co-Founder and Director of Too Good To Go
Jamie Crummie is the Co-founder and Director of Too Good To Go.
Follow Jamie Crummie:
About Too Good To Go, Too Good To Go: Too Good To Go develops an app for fighting food waste and saving delicious food.
Stephen Finch
Founder and Managing Director of Vagabond Wines
Stephen Finch is the Founder and Director of VAGABOND and BOXCAR
Follow Stephen Finch:
About BOXCAR, Vagabond Wines: Vagabond Wines is owns and operates wine bars and shops in the United Kingdom.
Stephanie Mathern
Non Executive Director of Vagabond Wines
Stephanie Mathern is the Non Executive Director at Vagabond Wines.
Follow Stephanie Mathern:
About Vagabond Wines: Vagabond Wines is owns and operates wine bars and shops in the United Kingdom.
Myles Hopper
Founder, Director of Mindful Chef
Follow Myles Hopper:
About Mindful Chef: Mindful Chef delivers all the fresh ingredients you need to create delicious, heathy meals.
Andrew Jennings
Group Managing Director, Retail of Woolworths Limited
A highly accomplished global retail executive with more than 40 years of achievement at some of the world’s most respected high-end, speciality stores. Recognised for his leadership capabilities and performance-driven management style, Andrew Jennings commands a vast knowledge of consumer trends, vendor networks and retail practices in mature and emerging markets. He has distinguished himself in senior executive positions in six countries and on four continents including Great Britain, Ireland, Canada, The United States, South Africa and Germany.
Follow Andrew Jennings:
About Saks Fifth Avenue, Woolworths Limited: Woolworths is an Australian company that was founded in 1924 in Sydney. When we opened our first store.
Josh White
Co-Founder & Marketing Director of CanO Water
Follow Josh White:
About CanO Water: A resealable can of natural spring water offered as still or sparkling, created as a highly recyclable alternative to plastic water bottles
Amelia Harvey
Co-Founder and Director of The Collective Dairy
Follow Amelia Harvey:
About The Collective Dairy: The Collective Dairy Their quest was simple… create an extraordinary yoghurt with an unbeatable taste!.
Tina Kataria
Innovation Platforms and Strategy Director of Coca-Cola Enterprises
Follow Tina Kataria:
About Coca-Cola Enterprises: Coca-Cola Enterprises is a marketer, producer, and distributor of non-alcoholic drinks.
Steve Webster
Co-Founder & Director of Technology of Tails.com
Follow Steve Webster:
About Tails.com: Tails.com is an online pet nutrition service that provides tailor-made food designed to deliver perfectly optimised nutrition for dogs.
Stephen Argent
Managing Director of Soupologie
Stephen Argent is a Founder at Soupologie.
Follow Stephen Argent:
About Soupologie: Soupologie was founded by Master Soupologist, Stephen, who discovered his talent for making soups while cooking for his family.
Max Dubiel
Director and Founder of Redemption Roasters
Follow Max Dubiel:
About Redemption Roasters: Redemption Roasters is a specialty coffee company.
Ben Hopkinson
Co-founder & Managing Director of Hop King
Follow Ben Hopkinson:
About Hop King: Hop King is a dual Beer and Skateboard brand.
Mr. Sufi Miah
Director of ChefOnline
Follow Mr. Sufi Miah:
About : Order Takeaway Food Online or make reservation at your nearest Restaurant via ChefOnline.
B. Nick Popovici
Co-Founder & Managing Director of Vita Mojo
B. Nick Popovici is the Co Founder and Managing Director of Vita Mojo.
Follow B. Nick Popovici:
About Founders Pledge, Vita Mojo: Vita Mojo’s menu allows anyone to eat for anyones’ individualized needs.
AF_initDataCallback({key: \’ds:1\'” alt=”” class=”wp-image-14850″ width=”154″ height=”152″/>Chris Baker
Director and Co-Founder of Change Please
Follow Chris Baker:
About Change Please: Change Please is empowering the homeless community by training them as baristas and giving them jobs.
Andy Yates
Director of Craved
Andy Yates is Director of Craved.
Follow Andy Yates:
About Craved, Home Grown, InnovationRCA, New Wave Learning, Wildgoose: Craved curates a collection of small batch food and drink made in London.
Rob Shepherd
Director of Bedlam Brewery
Follow Rob Shepherd:
About Bedlam Brewery, International Ambulances, President Energy, Utas Petroleum Services: Bedlam is an environmentally friendly brewery on a farm that encourages zero waste.
Tim Chambers
Co-Founder & Director of InspiraFarms
Tim Chambers is the Co-Founder and Director at InspiraFarms.
Follow Tim Chambers:
About Carbon13, InspiraFarms, Offgrid Finance, Value for Women: InspiraFarms™ supplies modular, FOOD-SAFE certification ready modular processing and cold storage technology.
Darren Callcott
Founder & Director of StreetDots
Darren Callcott is co-founder of StreetDots.
Follow Darren Callcott:
About CADA Design, StreetDots: StreetDots creates smart street-trading platform.
Lasse Weber
Country Director of Joe & the Juice
Follow Lasse Weber:
About Joe & the Juice: A Copenhagen-based urban juice bar and coffee chain
Rasmus Andersen
Partner/Director of Joe & the Juice
Follow Rasmus Andersen:
About Joe & the Juice: A Copenhagen-based urban juice bar and coffee chain
Ben Revell
Director of Winebuyers
Follow Ben Revell:
About Winebuyers: Winebuyers is an exclusive online wine club with a simple mission.
Kim Gelling
Head of Making Deals (Commercial Director) of Ella’s Kitchen
Follow Kim Gelling:
About Ella’s Kitchen: Ella’s Kitchen’s mission is to improve children’s lives through developing a healthy relationship with food.
Nivi Jasa
Founder & Director of I AM NUT OK
Follow Nivi Jasa:
About I AM NUT OK: I AM NUT OK develops vegan-friendly alternatives to dairy food.
Andrew Sherick
Founder/Director of SSH Shakes
Follow Andrew Sherick:
About SSH Shakes: SSH Shakes is a luxury milkshake inventor and manufacturer.
Daniel Blignaut
Managing Director of UCook
An articulate and passionate entrepreneur looking to utilise my unique background in management, finance and software engineering by taking on a role that challenges me to innovate business and drive value creation
Follow Daniel Blignaut:
About UCook: UCOOK is a food and beverage platform that offers meal kit delivery service.
Solveiga Pakstaite
Founder and Director of Mimica
Follow Solveiga Pakstaite:
About Design By Sol, Mimica: Temperature-sensitive labels and caps that indicate food’s true freshness
Andrew Morgan
Commercial Director of E1 Brew
Follow Andrew Morgan:
About E1 Brew: E1 Brew develops and manufactures alcoholic beers and brand products.
Shami Radia
Co-Founder | Marketing Director of Eat Grub
Follow Shami Radia:
About Eat Grub: Eat Grub source and sell edible insects, host exciting insect food events, and develop delicious new insect recipes.
Maria Trechman
Co-Founder and Director of Well&Truly
Follow Maria Trechman:
About Well&Truly: Well&Truly is properly satisfying snacks without any artificial nonsense.
Sara Trechman
Co-Founder and Director of Well&Truly
Follow Sara Trechman:
About Well&Truly: Well&Truly is properly satisfying snacks without any artificial nonsense.
Laura Brodie
Vice President/Director of Partnerships and External Relations of International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD)
Follow Laura Brodie:
About International Alliance for Responsible Drinking (IARD): International Alliance is a not-for-profit organization that addresses harmful drinking and promoting responsible drinking.
Ella Mills
Founder and Brand Director of Deliciously Ella
Ella Mills is the Founder and Brand Director of Deliciously Ella.
Follow Ella Mills:
About Deliciously Ella: Deliciously Ella is a food company based in London.
Meg Haggar
Founder and Director of Raw Halo
Follow Meg Haggar:
About Raw Halo: Raw Halo is an award-winning raw chocolate brand.
John Burke
Co-Founder and Commercial Director of Craft Clubs
Follow John Burke:
About Craft Clubs: Craft Clubs offers quality food and drink brands a powerful new way to reach consumers, both in their homes and online.
Charlie Thuillier
Founder and Managing Director of Oppo Ice Cream
Charlie Thuillier is the Founder & Managing Director at Oppo Brothers.
Follow Charlie Thuillier:
About Oppo Ice Cream: Oppo Ice Cream provides a wide range of ice creams such as madagascan vanilla, mint choc swirl, and salted caramel.
Harry Thuillier
Co-Owner and Managing Director of Oppo Ice Cream
Harry Thuillier is the Co-Owner and Managing Director.
Follow Harry Thuillier:
About Oppo Ice Cream: Oppo Ice Cream provides a wide range of ice creams such as madagascan vanilla, mint choc swirl, and salted caramel.
Marc Werter
Director of The Foodfellas
Marc has been involved in food importation and distribution for many years, with a leading national importer distributor. He manages the operational and logistics functions of the business and is also involved in all commercial aspects, including sales.
Follow Marc Werter:
About The Foodfellas: The Foodfellas is supplies innovative, authentic, high quality food products from around the world to the foodservice market in the UK.
Richard Wilkinson
Director of Doisy & Dam
Follow Richard Wilkinson:
About Doisy & Dam: Doisy & Dam makes and package everything by hand in the UK, using globally sourced ingredients and the highest quality organic chocolate.
Olly Hiscocks
Director & Founder of Olly’s Olives
Follow Olly Hiscocks:
About Olly’s Olives: Olly’s Olives is the world’s first 100% natural, unpasteurised snack pouch of olives with no artificial additives.
Amar Kotak
Director of TAP APP
Follow Amar Kotak:
About TAP APP: TAP APP is a new mobile ordering and payment solution for the hospitality industry.
Stephen Chadwick
Investment Director of Chadwick Capital
Follow Stephen Chadwick:
About Chadwick Capital: Venture Capitalist supporting the Tech, Food & Beverage & FinTech sectors
Natasha Kelly
Director, Co-Founder of Tiosk
Follow Natasha Kelly:
About Tiosk: Tiosk is a contemporary tea brand specialising in premium tea-based drinks.
Dominic Gesua
Co-Founder & Managing Director of Lickalix
Follow Dominic Gesua:
About Lickalix: Lickalix is a natural ice lolly company launched in May 2014.
Anna Ojutkangas
Co-Founder & Director of Arctic Power Berries
Follow Anna Ojutkangas:
About Arctic Power Berries: BERRY POWDERS are 100% pure dried berries with no added non-sense or sugar, only unbelievable health benefits.
Ruth Dronfield
Co-Founder & Managing Director of Atlantic Kitchen
The most common question I am asked as the Managing Director of Atlantic Kitchen is ‘How did you get involved with seaweed?’This is a fair question as for ten years I was an Event Manager running large-scale outdoor events in London and around the UK. I was on the senior management teams that run Field Day, Bestival, Winter Wonderland, BST Hyde Park and I also ran my own little production company for more exclusive private parties and mini-festivals. But the roots of Atlantic Kitchen run far deeper. I was born to hippy alternative parents in London, who took me on marches and dressed me in corduroy dungarees and certainly didn’t cook ready meals. I was brought up on home-cooked food and deprived (to my profound annoyance at the time) of pop-tarts, stringy cheese and shop-bought cakes. I was definitely the only kid in my class who had crumbly wholemeal bread sandwiches instead of nice, neat white ones. My mum is vegetarian so I was exposed to vegetable-based meals of rice, stews, salads, curries, quiches, lasagna and bakes. I grew up with the assumption that a mainly vegetable, pulse and grain diet was healthy, sustainable and normal. So, when my friend Dawn told me about her idea to set up a seaweed business to promote good eating and living, something resonated. That was in December 2012.Since then we launched a range of three dried seaweed products (here), crowd-funded, done deals with brilliant suppliers in France, Spain and Ireland, launched a range of three soups with seaweed (here) and are now stocked in over 150 stores in the UK including Wholefoods, Planet Organic and Ocado. See here for more stockists.It’s a huge challenge and a great honour to run Atlantic Kitchen and share the wonderful word of seaweed and its’ myriad of taste and health benefits with the world.
Follow Ruth Dronfield:
About Atlantic Kitchen: Atlantic Kitchen was set up in 2012.
Georgie Reames
Co-Founder & Director of Press London
Georgie Reames joined PRESS as Co Founder and Director in 2014.
Follow Georgie Reames:
About Press London: Health food and nutrition business.
Gary Ward
Managing Director of Redchurch Brewery
Follow Gary Ward:
About Redchurch Brewery: Redchurch Brewery have a mission to explore the outer limits of brewing techniques and flavours.
Ruby Chan
Managing Director of My Teatime LTD
Follow Ruby Chan:
About My Teatime LTD: Wholesome natural tea infusions: from blooming flower teas to perfectly crafted blends, made from whole leaves.
Ieva Dvilinskiene
Sales & Marketing Director of My Teatime LTD
Follow Ieva Dvilinskiene:
About My Teatime LTD: Wholesome natural tea infusions: from blooming flower teas to perfectly crafted blends, made from whole leaves.
Ieva Dvilinskiene
Sales & Marketing Director of My Teatime LTD
Follow Ieva Dvilinskiene:
About My Teatime LTD: Wholesome natural tea infusions: from blooming flower teas to perfectly crafted blends, made from whole leaves.
Ivo Slezak
Managing Director of Hummus Bros
Follow Ivo Slezak:
About Hummus Bros: Hummus Bros is about feeding you homemade hummus with mouth watering toppings.
Bartosz Rosol
Operations Director of Hummus Bros
Follow Bartosz Rosol:
About Hummus Bros: Hummus Bros is about feeding you homemade hummus with mouth watering toppings.
Melissa Del Bono
Founder and Creative Director of Meli Melo
Follow Melissa Del Bono:
About Meli Melo: Meli Melo is a British handbag label, with Italian heritage.
