Continuing our series of positive stories from women in the food industry in these challenging times. Sonya Devi-Clarke is Director & Founder The Vegetable Diva a packaging free, vegetarian catering company in Bristol and a 4 acre biodynamic vegetable plot just outside the city. We discovered how she helped to co-found The Bristol Food Union, a collective of restaurants, food businesses and community organisations to help ensure the city of Bristol stays fed during the Covid-19 crisis.

We were heartened to hear how a number of women have collaborated to help others during the Coronavirus pandemic. Elisa Furci of Caccia & Tails  shared how she has been working with a number of women in the food industry and the design world to pool their skills to fundraise to help feed NHS staff in Lewes, West Sussex.

We have been heartened by the stories coming in from many in the food industry who have been motivated to use their skills and energy to help others.  Jodi Hinds was kind enough to share her wonderful  photos of a team of over 20 chefs from leading restaurants who have taken over the kitchens at Le Pont de la Tour to prepare over 1,500 lunches a day for NHS workers at University College Hospital and 5 other hospitals.

As you know we have been talking to a number of women in the food industry about how they are handing the lockdown. Bekka Corrie-Close with her husband David founded The Horned Beef Company less than 10 years ago, with no experience of farming. Based on the principles of Farming with Nature, they are passionate about how people should manage our countryside.

We spoke to Camilla Lywood founder of What A Pickle about her COVID-19 story and what steps she’s taken to be creative and reinvent her business. The extra time that she feels she has have gained from not running around the country has concentrated her mind to hone systems within her business for the better.

We spoke to Birgit Gunz, Director of  Frankonia The Bread House about how her business has changed during COVID-19. When the crisis hit the hospitality sector her business went into free fall and within 48 hours 90% of her sales were wiped out.

Great British Menu (GBM) returned to our screens in March for season 15. The BBC2 show puts the nation’s most talented chefs to the test. At Women in the Food Industry we are continuing our series of interviews with the strong female line-up of chefs from across Britain competing to serve their dish at the final banquet. Our co-founder, Mecca Ibrahim, interviewed Ruth Hansom, Former Head Chef at Pomona’s and first ever female winner of Young National Chef of The Year.

Great British Menu (GBM) returned to our screens in March for season 15. The BBC2 show puts the nation’s most talented chefs to the test. At Women in the Food Industry we are continuing our series of interviews with the strong female line-up of chefs from across Britain competing to serve their dish at the final banquet. Our co-founder, Mecca Ibrahim, interviewed Samira Effa, senior production chef for TRUEfoods and ChefsTable.

Great British Menu (GBM) returned to our screens in March for season 15. The BBC2 show puts the nation’s most talented chefs to the test. At Women in the Food Industry we are continuing our series of interviews with the strong female line-up of chefs from across Britain competing to serve their dish at the final banquet. Our co-founder, Mecca Ibrahim, interviewed Georgia Sommerin, senior sous chef at Michelin starred Restaurant James Sommerin in Penarth.

We are delighted to see so much support & greater value around the UK’s food supply and the farmers, growers, food producers and people who fish in our seas. Before coronavirus, made us think even more about traditional food supply chains, we had a fascinating with discussion with Loren Hiller Commercial Officer at the Marine Stewardship Council about women in the seafood & fishing industry. She gave her personal views about why the industry is male dominated.

Great British Menu (GBM) returned to our screens in March for season 15. The show on BBC2 puts the nation’s most talented chefs to the test. At Women in the Food Industry we are continuing our series of interviews the strong female line-up of chefs from across Britain competing to serve their dish at the final banquet. Our co-founder, Mecca Ibrahim, interviewed Harriet Mansell, who is opening up a pop-up restaurant Robin Wylde in Lyme Regis.

We caught up with Zoe Arnold-Bennett co-founder of Shed 1 Distillery, a micro gin distillery in Ulverston. They’re using gin to make hand sanitisers for their local hospice, local charities & other vulnerable groups. Find out how they raised over £5,000 for this great initiative.