About
SCRAN is an innovative one-day gathering uniting chefs, farmers, producers, policy-makers and community leaders to reimagine what’s possible for Manchester’s food economy. We aim to inspire new thinking, spark connections, build network and develop ideas in support of resilient regional food economies.
A discussion built around one open question: what’s possible when chefs, farmers, food producers, community projects and policy makers stop working in silos and start working across sectors to build the food system we need for the future?
We’re not here to showcase stars. We’re here to hold space for the conversation our food community urgently needs -
What happens when we consider the possibility that…
- The challenges facing hospitality are not separate from the threats facing our national food supply chains;
- Restaurants have an essential role to play in engaging the public and developing local food cultures;
- Hospitality is often overlooked as part of the solution to the many challenges we face,
- Broadening the scope of what a restaurant is and does, may also support their resilience and economic bottom line
Business as usual is not making a comeback. It’s time for a radical, whole-systems approach to how the UK thinks about feeding itself.
Food has the power to transform communities. Food, farming and hospitality can offer meaningful solutions to societal challenges, and play a key-role in delivering the changes we need.
The pandemic taught us how to adapt in a crisis. This conversation asks: what lessons did we learn, and how will we apply them to what comes next?
Open to chefs, farmers, food producers, community organisations, academics, public policy leaders, and anyone invested in the future of a thriving regional food economy in Manchester.
What to expect:
Future forward
Exploring radical new approaches to the challenges facing food, farming and hospitality.
Across sectors
Bridging gaps between chefs, farmers, food producers, funders, policy makers and the public
Capacity & resilience
Network, collaboration and inclusion. Ensuring diverse voices shape regional food futures
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Programme
Full programme to be announced soon. Below you will find a flavour of what to expect.
Farmer, Grower, Chef
What changes when we stop working separately & build regional food economies together?
Chairs at the table
What role can hospitality play in feeding communities, not just customers?
Beyond Survival
What does resilience actually require, beyond the language of margins and rates?
Speakers
Watch out for more speaker announcements coming soon!
Thom Hetherington
Founder, Landing Light
Thom was one of founders of Restaurant magazine and the 50 Best Restaurants in the World awards, and latterly built a world class portfolio of hospitality events as owner of the NRB exhibition. As founder of Landing Light he is a consultant, commentator and community builder in food and drink in the North of England.
Rich Carver
Co-founder, Proloco
Rich is a hospitality entrepreneur with a background rooted in craft, provenance, and people-led food businesses. Widely credited as a founding figure in Manchester’s craft pizza movement, he has spent more than 13-years building businesses driven by genuine producer relationships and a love of good food.
Dan Hope
Co-founder, Proloco
Dan is co-founder of Proloco, a produce-led pizza restaurant in city-centre Manchester, and co-founder of Rainy Heart, His background spans hospitality, creative projects and business, with a particular interest in how atmosphere, service, food and sound come together to shape memorable experiences.
Sean Ruffell
Managing Director, Organic North
Sean is MD of Manchester-based wholesalers, Organic North, who over the past three decades have grown to become one the largest purveyors of organic produce in the UK. Organic North is committed to making organic food as accessible to as many people as possible and as well as supplying some of the UK’s best restaurants,
Caroline Dubois
Co-founder, Isca
Caroline is an artist and sommelier, who has always loved and worked with wine and good food. She's been interested/questionning the concept of hospitality. She has been at Where The Lights Gets In since its birth in 2016. She is the co-owner along with chef Isobel Jenkins of Isca, a wine bar in Levenshulme established in 2019. She cares about the process and people involved in the making.
Jonathan Pearcy
Founder, The Crafty Cheese Man
Jonathan is the founder of The Crafty Cheese Man a cheese and dairy wholesaler based an hour from Manchester supplying hospitality business across the North West. His business works with solely British producers but with a huge focus on the North and the people there who are producing exceptional cheese and dairy and being able to tell their stories.
Mary-Ellen McTague
Founder, Eat Well
Mary-Ellen McTague is a chef, writer and creative with over 25 years of experience in hospitality. She has created acclaimed dining experiences for Manchester International Festival, Selfridges and more — blending food, art, sound and design into unforgettable events. She has also led on community food projects, helping deliver over 130,000 meals to people across Greater Manchester.
Áine Morris
Founder, Sticky Fig Media
Áine has shaped some of the UK's most influential food events, from Abergavenny Food Festival to the Bristol Food Union. With significant experience in food systems transformation, she founded Sticky Fig to create space where food and hospitality professionals can reimagine their role in building more equitable food futures.
Express your interest
Space in 2026 is extremely limited and carefully balanced to reflect the breadth and variety of food, hospitality and farming communities from across the region
Express your interest in attending by completing the form below.