The BIG Buyers Brunch: A Taste of Staffordshire - Food, Drink & The Visitor Economy
13th May 2026 09:00 to 12:00 Burton Rugby Football Club Free
Join FinditinStokeandStaffs and the Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub for a BIG Buyers Brunch Special, bringing together the best of Staffordshire’s producers and food and drink manufacturers and wholesalers.
Connect with hospitality, leisure and retail buyers - plus key customers from some of the region’s largest buying organisations, for a focused morning of insight, connections and opportunity.
This event is for producers - including field-to-fork suppliers and local food and drink manufacturers - as well as businesses across the visitor economy, such as hotels, accommodation providers and hospitality venues, all looking to build supply chain relationships, explore new opportunities and gain practical procurement insight.
Connecting Producers to Possibility
Key buyers:
Colin Shaw, Head of Commercial, Select & Save (pictured right) - Colin represents one of the UK’s leading independent convenience retail fascia brands, supporting locally owned stores through strong partnerships and a community-focused approach. He brings over 35 years’ experience across FMCG supply and wholesale, including roles with Campbell’s, Premier Beverages, Lakeland Dairies, Blakemore and Booker.
With this background, Colin offers valuable insight into what buyers look for from SME food and drink suppliers, and how to stand out and demonstrate commercial viability.
Jean-Paul Larose, Head of Procurement, Ornua Foods UK - Ornua is the country’s largest supplier of pre-packed hard cheese, operating from a state-of-the-art facility in Leek. It is responsible for the sales and marketing of well-known brands such as Pilgrims Choice and Kerrygold, offering a range of cheese, butter and spreads. Jean Paul will discuss procurement strategies with a particular focus on cheese sourcing.
His team is currently driving a range of initiatives focused on cost savings and sustainability, spanning indirect categories such as chemicals, janitorial supplies, and PPE, as well as direct areas like packaging, which are under active review.
Liz Salter, Head of Procurement, University of Staffordshire - Find out about the university's public sector procurement and framework agreements - and what SMEs can do to be “tender-ready” and well-positioned for success.
With special guests:
Ruth Dolby FIFST, Director at Food Science Fusion
With a global food industry background - from Cordon Bleu chef to roles across manufacturing, wholesale, foodservice and retail (including Tesco) - Ruth specialises in innovation, cost efficiency and connecting people and ideas.
She will explore how great food ideas become viable, sellable products by balancing consumer appeal, commercial reality and sustainability. Using a practical framework and case study, she’ll show how teams move from concept to launch by testing ideas against key factors like target audience, pricing, margins and shelf life.
Charlotte Shepherd, Co-Founder of Twofold Spirits will be joining the event to share her journey building a premium craft spirits brand. Launched in 2024 alongside Michelin-starred chef Tom Shepherd, the Staffordshire-based brand is known for its bold, flavour-led approach inspired by modern hospitality. With a background at leading drinks brands including Fever-Tree and Britvic, Charlotte brings valuable insight into customer engagement, brand building and taking innovative products to market.
Plus expo-style networking and a relaxed brunch to give buyers and suppliers plenty of time to meet!
An event brought to you by FinditinStoke&Staffs, event partners Stoke-on-Trent & Staffordshire Growth Hub and Staffordshire County Council with The Mighty Kitchen
Mighty is an innovative plant-based food brand, now expanding its range with Mighty Drinks - a refreshing line of dairy-free beverages. From high-protein, flavour-packed meat alternatives to smooth, great-tasting drinks, Mighty is helping shape modern, sustainable menus without compromising on taste. Driven by a commitment to better choices, Mighty creates products that are better for people, better for the planet and always big on flavour. Sponsored by The Mighty Kitchen, it is designed to strengthen Staffordshire’s supply chains and champion sustainable local procurement.
Secure your FREE place(s) below using the online booking system.
Burton Rugby Football Club, Battlestead Croft, Branston Rd, Tatenhill, Burton-on-Trent, East Staffordshire, DE13 9FF
Event Buyers
Ornua Foods UK, Leek, Staffordshire
Services: Our latest buyer announcement is Ornua Foods UK, represented by Jean-Paul Larose, Head of Procurement and Buyer, Kate Mitchell. A key player in the UK dairy supply chain, Ornua is responsible for the sales and marketing of well-known brands such as Pilgrims Choice and Kerrygold, offering a range of cheese, butter and spreads. Operating from a state-of-the-art cheese packing facility in Leek, Staffordshire, Ornua Foods UK is the country’s largest supplier of pre-packed hard cheese, serving all major UK retailers as well as wholesale, convenience and foodservice markets.
Currently focused on improving cost efficiencies and advancing sustainability, their procurement team is actively seeking innovative, reliable suppliers across both direct and indirect categories - including packaging, chemicals, janitorial supplies and PPE - to support ongoing operational excellence and long-term value creation.
LIV Golf
Services: We’re excited to welcome Peter Russell, Consulting Principal at Russell Partnership Collection, to the event. With 20 years in the industry and 15 years with RPC, Peter has led food and beverage delivery across major global events, including the Rugby World Cup 2019, EXPO 2020, Qatar World Cup 2022 and Commonwealth Games 2022.
He currently heads the delivery team working closely with LIV Golf, managing all food and beverage operations for the 2026 season and shaping strategic direction for 2027 and beyond.
As both a buyer and speaker, Peter brings insight into sustainable and local procurement, demonstrating how innovative sourcing drives efficiency and embeds events within local markets. LIV Golf, featuring 57 players across 14 global locations, partners with RPC to ensure world-class, sustainable food and beverage experiences at every event.
University of Staffordshire
Services: The University of Staffordshire are a major local employer dedicated to working with the local supply chain, through their multiple divisions in the food and drink sector. This includes its on-campus hospitality and catering, to its nursery and forest school, business facilities and Student Union.
Liz Salter, Head of Procurement at the University, will share her experience in public sector procurement and framework agreements and what SMEs need to consider and prepare to best position themselves for successful tendering.
Event Sponsors
Mighty Kitchen
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