Brand Brunch | Networking Breakfast for Food and Drink Brands

Brand Brunch vol. 2025 | 3 – Fergus Fitzgerald of Adnams @ the Swan Hotel, Southwold

Friday, 20 June 2025 | 9:30 a.m. – 12 p.m., including optional tour of Adnams and Q&A with Fergus

• Meet and share experiences with a close group of food & drink business owners like you.

• Hear from our speaker, Fergus Fitzgerald, about life at Adnams and its challenges.

• Enjoy a delicious breakfast and drinks from the Swan Hotel team.

What is Brand Brunch?

Brand Brunch is a breakfast event for owners and directors of food and drink businesses. Producers, wholesalers, retailers, and the trade are all welcome! We'll help you connect with peers, share experiences, and grow together.

Brought to you by HOPKINS–LEFEVRE® Food and Drink

A little about HOPKINS–LEFEVRE®

We're a food and drink specialist consultancy that drives business growth through acquisition and email marketing, brand partnerships, and subscriptions. We work with food and drink founders who want to grow and flourish.

Our founder, Ben Hopkins-Lefevre, spent the past twenty-plus years working in transformational roles, including:

• The launch and growth of Naked Wines, Virgin Wines and Gousto

• Creating brand partnerships for Charles Tyrwhitt, Freddie's Flowers and Hotel Chocolat

• Helping shape sticky subscription models for the likes of Beer52, Gousto and Cafepod

After a few years in an agency environment (where Ben met superstars Grace and Hannah), the opportunity arose to create something new, specifically for food and drink brands: 

HOPKINS – LEFEVRE® Food & Drink Consultancy - Marketing Specialists for Wine, Beer and Spirits Brands

What can I expect if I join?

Our community is a friendly and welcoming peer-to-peer group of food and drink brand owners. It is exclusively for founders, owners, or senior directors of food and drink businesses.

Brand Brunch is a safe space where you can meet, listen to, and share stories with others who may have been in a similar situation. It is also a place to discuss some of the issues or challenges you currently face in your business.

In a morning roundtable gathering, we hear from a food and drink business that has overcome odds or faced challenges that others can hopefully benefit from, whether personally or professionally.

Based on our feedback from last year, you'll be glad you got involved!

"It's good to have a relaxed series of events to make connections and find ways to work with others in the local food and drink sector."

Fergus Fitzgerald, Head of Production at Adnams

Brand Brunch Agenda

9:30 a.m. – Arrive at The Swan Hotel and head up to the Library function room.

9:45 a.m. – Friendly introductions to the room.

10:00 a.m. – The hotel team will serve food.

10:15 a.m. – Ben will introduce Fergus Fitzgerald, who will share his experiences at Adnams.

10:45 a.m. – Brewery Tour plus Q&A with Fergus. Your chance to ask questions of Fergus.

* Brewery tour will include Brewery, Distillery, Whisky Dunnage, and Shop if time

12 – 12:30 p.m. – Depart Southwold, or stay on to enjoy the delights the town has to offer.

Who is this event for?

Coffee roasters, bakeries, wineries, cheesemakers, distilleries – you name it! If you make or sell food or drink products, all are welcome to join.

Our community is a peer-to-peer safe space for owners and directors of food and drink businesses.

Who is this event NOT for?

Sorry, but the event is not designed for sector suppliers unless you have received a special invitation. Bookings made by individuals not associated with food or drink businesses will be cancelled.

Why is there a limited capacity at each event?

A smaller group at each event allows attendees to learn more from one another. We aim for the group to support one another. Each event is an opportunity to hear success stories or learn about the challenges our peers may face.

Where will it be held?

This special event will be held in Southwold at the Swan Inn, followed by a free and exclusive tour in the neighbouring Adnams Brewery buildings. We will be in the Library function room, located upstairs in the hotel, upon arrival.

Can I park nearby?

Yes. The best parking early in the day is on the seafront. Head there and walk to the hotel. Limited spaces may be available for cars at the hotel, but why not take advantage of the fresh sea air before we meet?

I'm not from Suffolk. Can I join you?

We'll warmly welcome you and be glad of your company wherever your food or drink business is based.

Do you have a question we haven't answered?

Please contact Ben at hello@hopkinslefevre.com.

This picture shows our first Brand Brunch in April 2024 with Jonathan Reed of Paddy & Scott's