Foodbuy Group sponsors Oxford Junior Chef of the Year competition for the third year
5 June 2025
We are thrilled to have held our bi-annual Supplier Conference at London’s ExCeL on 21st May 2025. Using the theme “GROW” (growth, relationships, optimism, winning), the event brought together around 550 industry leaders, suppliers and key stakeholders.
The conference featured main stage presentations, where attendees heard from Foodbuy Group’s leadership team, as well as representatives from our parent company and largest client, Compass Group UK & Ireland, who brought different perspectives from across their sectors. Together, they covered topics such as investment in key areas for sustained growth, including data and social value, and important issues such as allergens and our investments in data and technology.
At the event, we launched our new Smart Retail sector, Amplifi. Elaine Swift, CEO of Amplifi, took to the main stage to unveil the bold vision behind Amplifi’s expansion, showcasing how it delivers next-generation smart retail solutions designed to meet growing consumer demand for convenience. Powered by advanced technology and data-driven insights, Amplifi is shaping the future of retail. A fully operational micromarket gave attendees hands-on experience of the platform’s capabilities and a clear view of its forward-thinking approach.
Exhibitors spent the afternoon of the conference networking with attendees talking them through valuable insights into industry innovations, paving the way for future partnerships and developments. Various exhibition stands gave suppliers the opportunity to network directly with the leadership teams from all of Foodbuy’s Group Purchasing Organisation (GPOs), Compass Group UK&I sectors and sub sectors as well as subject matter experts including the Foodbuy Group category teams, expert sustainability team and Foodbuy Technology Solutions team.
We are thrilled that the event, through a raffle and entertainment, raised over £10,000 for our long-standing charity partner, Duchenne UK. Duchenne UK is a leading charity working towards accelerating treatments and finding a cure for Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy (DMD) – the most common genetic killer for children.
Duchenne UK’s co-founder and CEO, Emily Reuben, took to the stage at the gala dinner with an inspiring presentation around her son’s journey with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, explaining why Duchenne UK is such an important and inspirational charity.
We are thrilled to have raised this significant amount for the charity, contributing to the £500,000+ raised for the charity since our partnership began in 2017.
Karl Atkins, CEO, Foodbuy Group said:
“Our bi-annual supplier conference is always a great event. This was an opportunity to share ideas, celebrate successes and create forward looking, collaborative plans for the future. We truly value our partnerships with our suppliers and this event has enabled us to ensure we are all working towards the same goals and that we are aligned to grow together and win together. With our purchasing power of over £2bn across 70 plus categories, we are the most diverse GPO in the UK and have the integrity, investment and scale to continue leading the way.”
Earlier this year, Foodbuy Group announced it had expanded to form the industry’s largest GPO. It operates to power the supply chain and add value to its partners beyond procurement, backed by decades of hospitality experience, with ambitious plans for further growth.
