John Shropshire OBE, chairman of G’s Group, will be the keynote speaker for the 2025 City Food & Drink Lecture event.
This year’s Lecture will take place on Tuesday 11th March 2025 at London’s Guildhall.
John Shropshire, who holds a BSc Hons in Agriculture from Newcastle University, joined the family farming and marketing business in 1976. Under his leadership, G’s has evolved into one of Europe’s foremost fresh produce companies producing quality salads, vegetables and added value produce in the UK, Spain, Central Europe, Senegal, and the USA.
The company boasts a turnover of £720 million, delivering over 20 million packs of produce weekly and employing around 9,500 people globally.
Shropshire is a founding member of both the Modern Slavery Intelligence Network (MSIN) and The Institute of Agriculture and Horticulture (TIAH). He also chaired the Independent Review into Labour Shortages in the Food Supply Chain, addressing critical issues that affect the industry today.
John Shropshire 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.”
Allan Wilkinson, chair of the City Food & Drink Lecture, added: “We are thrilled to welcome John Shropshire as our keynote speaker for 2025. It’s hugely important to hear the voice of a business that champions farming and look at the opportunities and challenges facing the industry today from a fresh produce business perspective, particularly when so much of the food industry has been taken up by ‘ultra processed foods’ and ‘high fat, sugar and salt’ debates.’’
