John Shropshire OBE will address key players in UK food and farming at London’s Guildhall on 11 March 2025
G’s chairman John Shropshire OBE has been revealed as the keynote speaker for the 2025 City Food & Drink Lecture.
The prestigious event is set to take place on 11 March at London’s Guildhall.
Shropshire, who holds a BSc Hons in Agriculture from Newcastle University, joined G’s back in 1976.
Under his leadership, the business has evolved into one of Europe’s leading fresh produce companies, producing quality salads, vegetables and added-value produce in the UK, Spain, Central Europe, Senegal, and the US.
The company boasts a turnover of £720 million, delivering over 20mn packs of produce weekly and employing around 9,500 people globally.
With a commitment to enhancing standards in the food and farming industry, Shropshire is also a founding member of both the Modern Slavery Intelligence Network (MSIN) and The Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH).
He 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.”
Chair of the City Food & Drink Lecture, Allan Wilkinson, said the organisation was “thrilled” to welcome Shropshire as the keynote speaker for 2025.
“It’s hugely important to hear the voice of a business that champions farming and to look at the opportunities and challenges facing the industry today… particularly when so much of the food industry has been taken up by ‘ultra processed foods’ and ‘high fat, sugar and salt’ debates.’’
