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Founder of Pret a Manger & itsu

Julian Metcalfe

Revolutionise your approach to food retail and innovation with Julian Metcalfe, speaker, entrepreneur, and founder of Pret a Manger and itsu.

Trusted by Pret a Manger, itsu, Metcalfe's Food Company

Julian Metcalfe
Julian Metcalfe

Julian Metcalfe

London, United Kingdom

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This is an estimated fee range for local in-person events. Location and format affect the final fee.

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Julian Metcalfe

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London, United Kingdom

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Julian Metcalfe's biography

At a glance

  • Co-founder of Pret a Manger and itsu
  • Launched Metcalfe's Food Company, known for Skinny Topcorn
  • Honored with MBE and OBE for services to the hospitality industry

Julian Metcalfe, co-founder of the Pret a Manger brand, expanded it into an international presence with Sinclair Beecham in 1986. He didn't stop there; in 1997, he launched itsu, a brand offering Asian-inspired food, followed by Metcalfe's Food Company in 2008, known for its snack foods, including the popular Metcalfe’s Skinny Topcorn in the UK. In 2016, Julian sold his stake in Metcalfe's Skinny to Snyder's-Lance, the owner of Kettle Chips. His contributions to the hospitality industry have been recognized with prestigious honors: he was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) and later appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 2014 Birthday Honours.

Topics, sessions and talks

Building Two Billion-Dollar Brands Simultaneously: A Success Story

The story of how Julian Metcalf built two billion-dollar-brands at the same time.

Why we recommend booking Julian

Julian offers your team insights from a visionary entrepreneur who transformed the food industry. Learn from his journey of building global brands, innovating in competitive markets, and achieving excellence. His experience will inspire innovation, resilience, and strategic thinking in your business endeavors.

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Trusted by Pret a Manger, itsu, Metcalfe's Food Company

frequently asked questions

Something we've not covered here?

How do I book Julian Metcalfe for my next event?

To book Julian Metcalfe for your event, email julian.metcalfe@getapeptalk.com or call PepTalk on +44 20 3835 2929 (UK) or +1 737 888 5112 (US), and one of our speaker agents will contact you ASAP to confirm Julian Metcalfe's availability and speaking fee. If you can, please include your budget upfront – it helps us fast-track your request. It’s also helpful to know the date, format (virtual or in-person), location, and about your audience.

What is Julian Metcalfe's speaking style like?

Julian Metcalfe structures his session as a founder narrative, tracing the parallel development of Pret a Manger and itsu as two simultaneous brand-building journeys from inception to international scale.

What topics does Julian Metcalfe focus on?

Julian Metcalfe OBE speaks on building global food brands, entrepreneurship, and business strategy. He co-founded Pret a Manger in 1986 and launched itsu in 1997, growing both into billion-dollar brands simultaneously.

Does PepTalk charge a booking fee?

No. PepTalk adds no booking fee, so you pay the speaker's fee and nothing beyond it. The service, from shortlist through to contracts and event-day logistics, is included. For repeat or multi-event bookings, PepTalk can agree preferential rates with your procurement team.

What happens after I send a brief?

Share your event date, audience, format, objectives and budget, and PepTalk sends a hand-picked shortlist within 24 hours. Each suggestion comes with a profile, a fee and a recommendation on the strongest fit. Once you choose, PepTalk handles contracts, travel and logistics through to event day.

What does the typical fee range mean?

The typical fee range is the speaker's standard in-person fee in their home market, shown in their local currency. It moves with format, location, date and session length: virtual sessions and shorter slots usually cost less, while international travel and peak dates cost more. Send your brief to PepTalk and the team will confirm the exact fee in your currency.

Have all the speakers on the website worked with PepTalk before?

Not all of them, and it makes no difference to your booking. PepTalk's network of 15,000+ speakers covers talent the team works with directly alongside speakers represented by agents and agencies worldwide. PepTalk approaches the speaker, negotiates the fee and handles contracting either way.

How far in advance should I book a speaker?

Three to six months ahead is comfortable for most events, and 12 months is better for large conferences, peak-season dates or one specific in-demand speaker. Shorter timelines are workable, and PepTalk regularly fills last-minute and replacement bookings within days. Availability is the constraint, so get in touch as soon as you have a date.