Sunridge Partners (UK), LLP (“Sunridge”), a specialist food, beverage, and agribusiness investor that helps companies grow to become clear sectoral leaders, continued a great tradition with the 2024 US Leadership Dinner in Chicago, Illinois.
The event was attended by CEOs, investors, and industry thought leaders who came together to discuss sectoral trends, share thoughts on the macroeconomic and geopolitical landscape, and more broadly build connections over fabulous food and drink at Boka, just north of the Loop.
Sunridge was honoured to have Ambassador Kip Tom as the guest of honour who shared his thoughts on a range of industry, regulatory, and political topics. Ambassador Tom served as the United States Ambassador to the United Nations Agencies for Food and Agriculture and was chief of the United States Mission to the UN Agencies in Rome from 2019 to 2021. Additionally, Ambassador Tom is the CEO and Owner of Indiana-based Tom Farms, which is among Indiana’s largest farming operations.
An interesting and thought-provoking discussion occurred following the Ambassador’s remarks.
Key topics covered included:
- Changing political regulation: With the U.S. presidential election having just occurred, there was deep discussion on the potential impact the new administration might have. More specifically, the potential reintroduction of tariffs and labour shortages stemming from immigration policy were top of mind;
- Technological investment to drive efficiencies: Financial pressures from all sides persist with continued inflation on raw materials, labor, energy, and other inputs increasing costs across the supply chain. Guests discussed these challenges in detail, emphasizing the critical role of innovation and technological automation as a key solution to improve efficiency and alleviate dependency on labor;
- Health consciousness: Consumers are continuing to prioritize products with reduced sugar levels, fewer artificial components, and less processing alongside a growing expectation for environmentally responsible production practices. Sustainable sourcing has become a key requirement, with consumers seeking assurances that ingredients are ethically and responsibly obtained. Dinner guests discussed how this trend offers an exciting opportunity for companies to enhance product transparency and strengthen their integration of natural alternatives and sustainable practices.
We look forward to future insightful discussions over the course of the year to come and thank all participants for a lovely evening.