Thomasina Miers

Chef, writer, presenter and MasterChef winner Thomasina Miers, OBE, has become one of the UK’s most recognisable and respected food entrepreneurs. After an early career making cheese and running market stalls in Ireland, a year in Mexico ignited her love of vibrant, sustainable cooking.

That passion led her to co-found Wahaca in 2007, a trailblazing restaurant group that redefined how Britons experience Mexican food. Celebrated for its bold flavours and ethical approach, Wahaca has won numerous awards for food and sustainability, and became fully carbon neutral in 2016, a first for a UK restaurant group.

Beyond Wahaca, Thomasina co-founded Chefs in Schools, a charity placing professional chefs in school kitchens to transform children from low-income backgrounds relationship with food. She also writes a regular column for The Guardian’s Feast magazine and is the author of eight cookbooks, including Meat-Free Mexican and Home Cook. In recognition of her impact on the food industry, she was awarded an OBE in 2019.

During her unmissable keynote at The British & International Franchise Exhibition, “Ingredients for business success”, Thomasina will share her journey from winning MasterChef to building a purpose-driven restaurant empire and reveal how creativity and a commitment to sustainability can turn a great idea into lasting business success.