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


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

Martin E.P. Seligman
Happiness
Workplace Wellbeing
Mental Health
frequently asked questions
Something we've not covered here?
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.
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.
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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.