Table Talk

Rhiannon Lambert's path to becoming one of the UK's leading nutritionists hasn't always been a straight forward one. Years before she opened her own clinic on Harley Street, she was a successful singer, jetting off to perform around the world. But it was what she saw whilst singing at some of the world's biggest fashion shows, that encouraged her to pursue the career she has. Some of the models were swallowing cotton wool to feel full, without putting on weight. "It repulsed me," Rhiannon tells Elisa Roche in this first episode of the Career Conversations series. "I didn't feel comfortable there." Rhiannon says later, her own unhealthy relationship with eating pushed her to "learn more about food" and go to university.  Fast-forward a few years and she finds herself in another uncomfortable situation, this time after she was mis-quoted in some national newspapers. She describes it as a "really tough period" in her life, and says it made her realise the value in having a mentor. Rhianno

The history of tea is as interesting and varied as the drink itself. In this episode we delve into that history to see what the past can offer present day tea makers. Stefan Gates is joined by Will Battle, Managing Director at Fine Tea Merchants, and author of the World Tea Encyclopaedia. They look back at the role tea has played in the economy of the world, in the past and today. The history of tea includes its use as a currency and how smuggling brought it to the masses in the UK. We also learn why one tiny parcel of tea was once worth more than a limousine. Will Battle, Managing Director, Fine Tea Merchants Will Battle is Managing Director of Fine Tea Merchants Ltd, a business-to-business tea importing, trading and wholesale company.  Will’s critically-acclaimed book The World Tea Encyclopaedia is in its second edition and won a ‘Best in the World’ award at The Gourmand World Cookbook awards.

Food brands need to work out what consumers will be eating in future, but how do they go about it, and what happens if they get it wrong? In this edition of the Table Talk podcast, we look at the business of predicting people's eating habits. How do companies work out what we'll all be reaching for in the supermarket in five years' time? What is the cost to them if they get it wrong? And how often do they get it right? Stefan Gates is joined by Sophie Davies, Senior Buyer at Planet Organic, and Mike Hughes, Head of Insight and Research at FMCG Gurus to try to answer those questions. They offer their insights into how the industry works, as well as setting out their predictions for 2022. Sophie Davies, Senior Buyer, Planet Organic Sophie has been at Planet Organic since March 2015 and is the Senior Buyer for the Fresh Food & Drink department, spanning across Grab&Go, Fresh Groceries including Fruit&Veg, Bakery and Chilled take home. Planet Organic has 14 stores in Central London and an online

In this edition of the Table Talk podcast, we're looking at the role of functional ingredients in low and no alcohol drinks.    Stefan Gates is joined by Dash Lilley, co-founder of Three Spirits, and David Begg, co-founder of Real Kombucha.    They discuss ingredients which lift the mood, as well as providing health benefits on the side. Functional ingredients have been one of the stories of the last few years, but the question is – can they also provide the beguiling and beautiful tastes to match the best in the sector?    In this episode, Stefan, Dash and David explain what we mean by functional ingredients, debate what needs to happen to move the sector forward, and answer the question: Does the lo and no alcohol sector still have an innovative, entrepreneurial feel - or is it just big business now?

From October 2022, new rules are set to be enforced around the sale of foods that are high in fat, salt and sugar (HFSS). The HFSS promotion ban has been controversial since it was first devised and now retailers are calling for a further delay to its enforcement. The new rules will see the end of deals like buy-one-get-one-free, a ban on free soft drink refills, and restrictions on where HFSS products can be placed in a store - think sweets at the till. Enforcement of the law has already been delayed once, so would another postponement actually make a difference? In this episode of the Table Talk podcast, Stefan Gates is joined by three experts to talk through the issues retailers have. They discuss what they see as ambiguity in the legislation, the challenges some stores face when it comes to complying in a small space, and how some retailers are already adapting to the new laws. Andrea Martinez-Inchowsti, Deputy Director, British Retail Consortium Andrea is Deputy Director responsible for food polic

Globally, alcohol consumption is thought to have declined by 6% in 2020. And between 2020 and 2024 the “low and no” market is expected to balloon by 31%. But what's next for the sector? What will we all be drinking in ten years' time? And how can "low and no" overcome some of the challenges it faces? In this episode of the Table Talk podcast, Stefan Gates is joined by three experts to help answer some of those questions. They discuss why developments in alcohol-free wine have been slower than in alcohol-free beer, why a trace amount of alcohol means a drink is less likely to go to waste, and they tackle the big question: What should the low and no alcohol sector actually be called? They also try to predict what the alcohol-free trends will be in 2022 and beyond. Future-gazing is a fool's game - but let's do it anyway! Laura Willoughby MBE, Founder of Club Soda and the Mindful Drinking Festival The inspiration for Club Soda comes from Laura’s experience of giving up drinking ten years ago. A campaign

You might already know that you want to work in the green sector, but how do you go about finding the right job for you? It's a question we've been asking on Table Talk throughout our Green Jobs series and in this episode, we get more fantastic advice from someone who can not only talk the talk, but is already walking the walk. Marc Zornes is CEO and Winnow Solutions - a company that helps commercial kitchens reduce food waste. He tells Stefan Gates that people entering the green jobs market at the moment should be looking at companies that are "setting tomorrow's agenda". Find out why he thinks people shouldn't be looking for sustainability roles anymore, how he experienced self-doubt when starting his own company, and his three tips for landing your dream green job. Marc Zornes, CEO and Founder, Winnow Solutions Marc Zornes was a former top-rated McKinsey Engagement Manager where he was a leader in the consumer and sustainability practices.  While at McKinsey, Marc co-authored the McKinsey Global

The Table Talk podcast is on a festive break, but that doesn't mean we stop providing top content. We've delved into our archive and pulled out some of the best interviews from 2021. In this episode, Stefan Gates met Josh Tetrick, CEO of Eat Just. Eat Just made history in 2021, following a regulatory approval decision in Singapore for lab-grown meat to be sold in a restaurant.  System change needs to start somewhere, and this approval offers the potential to be the catalyst for changing the future of meat production and consumption and for cutting down on greenhouse gases, thus being more environmentally friendly. The 1880 restaurant in Singapore is the first restaurant in the world to have lab grown meat on their menu.  The restaurant sells a trio of taster dishes using Eat Just cultured chicken: bao bun with crispy sesame cultured chicken and spring onion; filo puff pastry with cultured chicken and black bean puree; and a crispy maple waffle with cultured chicken with spices and hot sauce. In

This episode is part of a special series we’re running to celebrate the fact we’ve now made more than 200 editions of Table Talk. We would like to thank everyone who has joined us on the podcast since it launched and we are so grateful to you for helping us reach this milestone.  To mark the occasion, we’ve invited some friends of the podcast to make their own mini-episodes, looking back at 2021.  It’s been another year that’ll stick in the mind, but we’re doing our best to avoid the C-word (that's Covid) as we get our guests to reflect on the good, the bad and the ugly of the last 12 months. In this episode, we hear from Anna Taylor, Executive Director of The Food Foundation. Anna Taylor Anna joined The Food Foundation as its first Executive Director at the beginning of June 2015 after 5 years at the Department for International Development.  At DFID, Anna led the policy team on nutrition and supported the delivery of the UK’s global commitments to tackle undernutrition. 

In this episode, we hear from Derek Sarno, co-founder of Wicked Healthy, LLC, and Executive Chef & Director of Plant-Based Innovation for Tesco PLC This episode is part of a special series we’re running to celebrate the fact we’ve now made more than 200 editions of Table Talk. We would like to thank everyone who has joined us on the podcast since it launched and we are so grateful to you for helping us to reach this milestone. To mark the occasion, we’ve invited some friends of the podcast to make their own mini-episodes, looking back at 2021. It’s been another year that’ll stick in the mind, but we’re doing our best to avoid the C-word (that's Covid) as we get our guests to reflect on the good, the bad and the ugly of the last 12 months. In this episode, we hear from Ria Rehberg, CEO of Veganuary. Ria Rehberg Ria Rehberg is the CEO of Veganuary, a UK based charity that encourages people worldwide to try going vegan in January and beyond.  Since 2014, Veganuary has inspired and supported more

This episode is part of a special series we’re running to celebrate the fact we’ve now made more than 200 editions of Table Talk. We would like to thank everyone who has joined us on the podcast since it launched and we are so grateful to you for helping us to reach this milestone. To mark the occasion, we’ve invited some friends of the podcast to make their own mini-episodes, looking back at 2021. It’s been another year that’ll stick in the mind, but we’re doing our best to avoid the C-word (that's Covid) as we get our guests to reflect on the good, the bad and the ugly of the last 12 months. In this episode, we hear from Andrew Ive, Founder and Managing General Partner at Big Idea Ventures. Andrew Ive Andrew founded Big Idea Ventures and invests and builds companies in the alternative protein and plant based sectors as part of their first fund – the New Protein Fund.  Andrew has invested in more early stage / pre-seed food companies than most other investor worldwide. Andrew is focused on innovati

This episode is part of a special series we’re running to celebrate the fact we’ve now made more than 200 editions of Table Talk. We would like to thank everyone who has joined us on the podcast since it launched and we are so grateful to you for helping us to reach this milestone. To mark the occasion, we’ve invited some friends of the podcast to make their own mini-episodes, looking back at 2021. It’s been another year that’ll stick in the mind, but we’re doing our best to avoid the C-word (that's Covid) as we get our guests to reflect on the good, the bad and the ugly of the last 12 months. In this episode, we hear from Barry Smith, Founding Director of the Centre for the Study of Senses Barry Smith Barry C Smith is a professor of philosophy and director of the Institute of Philosophy at the University of London’s School of Advanced Study.  He is also the founding director of the Centre for the Study of the Senses, which pioneers collaborative research between philosophers, psychologists and neuro

This episode is part of a special series we’re running to celebrate the fact we’ve now made more than 200 editions of Table Talk. We would like to thank everyone who has joined us on the podcast since it launched and we are so grateful to you for helping us to reach this milestone. To mark the occasion, we’ve invited some friends of the podcast to make their own mini-episodes, looking back at 2021. It’s been another year that’ll stick in the mind, but we’re doing our best to avoid the C-word (that's Covid) as we get our guests to reflect on the good, the bad and the ugly of the last 12 months. In this episode, we hear from Derek Sarno, co-founder of Wicked Healthy, LLC, and Executive Chef & Director of Plant-Based Innovation for Tesco PLC Derek Sarno Prior to co-founding Wicked Healthy and partnering with Tesco, Derek served as the Senior Global Executive Chef for Whole Foods Market, where he oversaw global research and development for the company’s prepared foods department, worked with suppli

The Table Talk podcast is on a festive break, but that doesn't mean we stop providing top content. We've delved into our archive and pulled out some of the best interviews from 2021. In this episode, Stefan Gates met Oliver Bennett; a British race car driver, turned energy drink entrepreneur. Oliver made his debut in the British Rallycross Championship in 2016 and fought for the title the following season. He is also the co-founder of Xite Energy, a brand bringing nootropic energy drinks to the mass market. Popular among Gen Z and E-sports athletes, nootropics support healthy brain function and mental ability. This podcast looks at the growing world of nootropics, as we chat to Oliver about why Xite entered the market and how the sector has developed, and will continue to grow. Why are so many E-sports athletes and Gen Z consumers embracing nootropics for cognitive health, and what can we expect from brands like Xite in the future? J Oliver Bennett Oliver Bennett is a 28-year-old British driver w

Turkey, roast potatoes, Christmas pudding, Brussels sprouts - Christmas dinner hasn't always been this way. And there is certainly no reason to think it will stay that way in the future. In this episode of the Table Talk podcast, Stefan Gates delves into the history of the Christmas dinner with food historian Seren Charrington-Hollins. Seren reveals why Victorian Christmas traditions have endured the longest, how plant-based foods have always played a role in the main festive meal, and she re-visits the once ubiquitous 'Christmas Kissing Ball'. And she tries to answer a key question; are current Christmas dinner traditions sustainable in the long-term? Seren Charrington-Hollins As a food historian, Seren has been bringing food history to life since 2007.  She has written countless articles on food and domestic history, has given countless local and national radio interviews, as well as having appeared in a variety of TV programmes and productions.  Already the published author of "A Dark History of T

Professor David Nutt, on the science behind hangovers and how new trends in the drinks market could help eradicate them for good. Alcohol is very much on the agenda as we approach the end of the year and look forward to a new one. Typically, in December we drink too much and in January, many of us think about cutting back. In this episode of the Table Talk podcast, Stefan Gates is joined by a very special guest who can offer some real insights into our relationship with alcohol, and specifically hangovers. Professor David Nutt is a former UK Government adviser and is currently employed at Imperial College London. He reveals the cost to the economy of people being hungover, why he thinks hangovers should be considered a form of illness, and how he believes synthetic alternatives to alcohol could eradicate some of its least desirable effects. David Nutt, DM, FRCP, FRCPsych, FBPhS FMedSci DLaws David Nutt is currently the Edmund J Safra Professor of Neuropsychopharmacology, Head of the Centre for Neuro

If you are kicking yourself for taking an arts degree when really you want to be working in the green economy - this podcast is for you. As part of the Table Talk podcast's Green Jobs series, Stefan Gates meets India Langley, Communications Manager for the innovative indoor farming company LettUs Grow. She reveals the secret to switching from the arts to science, the surprising opportunities that have arisen as a result of her own journey, and why she thinks not having a scientific background has helped her to be better at her job. India Langley, Communications Manager, LettUs Grow India Langley is a Sustainability Communicator who specialises in food and farming.  India heads up the communications and marketing team at LettUs Grow, an innovative indoor farming company that provides technology for vertical farms and greenhouses that take account of plants, people and the planet.  Their combination of farm management software and aeroponic technology maximises growth rates while minimising environmental

Most of us know that experiencing flavour doesn’t just involve our tastebuds, but what other factors are influencing us when we eat and why is it so important? In this episode of the Table Talk podcast, Stefan Gates is joined by Betina Piqueras Fiszman, Associate Professor at Wageningen University. They discuss the history of taste and flavour, and the important role they have played in human evolution. From bitterness helping us avoid poisons, to making foods more palatable for hospital patients, taste and flavour have played, and continue to play, a key role in keeping us alive. But what tricks can be used to enhance flavour? What role do emotions play in the eating experience? And what can be done for people who have lost their sense of taste as a result of Covid? Oh, and we find out if Stefan is a "supertaster". Betina Piqueras Fiszman, Associate Professor, Wageningen University Betina's research focuses on the exploration of new ways to understand consumer food preferences and motivation

Carlsberg is one of the biggest beer companies in the world, so working as its Sustainability Manager can mean making small changes that have a big impact. For the last three years, Pete Statham has been doing just that. In this episode of Table Talk, he tells Stefan Gates about how a switch to more sustainable packaging was a commercial success for the firm, and how it worked with competitors to develop the lowest carbon beer bottle in the world. He reveals that companies are now coming under pressure to be more sustainable, not just from customers, but also from investors. He talks about people in roles like his being able to balance activism with a business brain. And he sets out why he thinks collaboration is the key to tackling climate change.  Pete Statham, Sustainability Manager, Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company & Carlsberg Group Pete has 10 years’ experience working in corporate sustainability, supporting some of the world’s biggest brands to become more sustainable and transparent

When the UK Government published its Obesity Strategy in 2020, many critics argued it didn't go far enough. Now, an alliance of organisations, ranging from doctors to dentists and charities to campaign groups, have come together to set out their vision for change. In this episode of the Table Talk Podcast, Caroline Cerny, Alliance Lead at the Obesity Health Alliance, joins Stefan Gates to set out why she believes their strategy could change the course of the UK's obesity epidemic. She talks about the impact of lockdown on our weight, why we need to move away from obesessing about obesity targets, and why she would like to see the end of cake sales at schools. Caroline Cerny Caroline Cerny is Alliance Lead at the Obesity Health Alliance, a coalition of over 40 health charities, medical royal colleges and campaign groups. She coordinates policy development, public affairs and communications across the membership, representing their views to policy makers and the media.  Prior to this role, Caroline worked