Scaling Without Compromise: Finding the Right Manufacturing Model (Bread & Jam Festival 2026 Live Recording, Powered by GS1 UK)

Recorded live at the 10th edition of the Bread & Jam Festival, this panel brings together three founders to explore what it really takes to scale food and drink production. Gulrez Arora of Gymkhana Fine Foods, Tom Partridge of HOLOS Kombucha and Riya Patel of All The Aunties share the decisions, trade-offs and challenges behind growing their brands, from bringing restaurant-quality Indian sauces to supermarket shelves to scaling small-batch kombucha and putting better paneer on shelves. Chaired by Zoe Fox, Head of Business Development at The Coconut Collab and host of the Getting to Grow podcast, the discussion gets into the practicalities of finding the right manufacturing partner, maintaining quality as demand grows, and convincing manufacturers to take a chance on an emerging brand. From the pros and cons of in-house production versus working with a co-packer to managing costs and meeting retailer requirements, this is an honest look at the realities of scaling without compromise.