The Fortnum & Makers 2026 Open Call
Terms & Conditions
Who can enter
This competition is open to all food manufacturers in the United Kingdom and Ireland. Manufacturers who are Sole Traders, Private Limited Companies and Public Limited Companies are all eligible to enter. Products must have already been developed and launched, and be in retail-ready packaging.
Manufacturers who are successful in this open call will be required to sign up to Fortnum & Mason standard terms and conditions before orders can be placed.
In 2026, this competition is open to manufacturers of the following products: wellness, tea, coffee, biscuits, cake, chocolate and sugar confectionery, preserves, honey, condiments, oils, vinegars, herbs & spices, other sweet or savoury ambient stable products, drinks, and fresh bakery products.
The winners will be required to supply Fortnum & Mason with products in their own branded packaging, this must be retail ready and have a barcode. It will comply with UK and Ireland food product packaging legislation.
If shortlisted as a finalist, we would like the entrants to be able to attend Fortnum & Mason Piccadilly between Wednesday 8th April 2026 and Saturday 11th April 2026 to meet the buyers for the final judging round. If you are unable to attend on those dates we will arrange a video call instead, and for manufacturers meeting with buyers via a video call, samples of the products must be sent into Piccadilly in advance.
The entries cannot include any of the following ingredients: palm oil, Southampton 6 colours, titanium dioxide. Products must be produced using natural colours and flavourings.
Manufacturers who are shortlisted will be required to submit a recipe sheet for each product before being invited to attend the final judging.
How to enter
To enter, complete the form on the Fortnum & Mason website. The competition is open for entries from Thursday 12th February 2026 until Tuesday 10th March 2026.
If you wish to submit multiple products, complete the form once for all products you wish to be entered into the competition. You warrant that each of the products submitted are already developed and retail ready at the time of submission.
Deadline for entries
Entries must be received between 00.01am on Tuesday 10th February 2026 and 5.30pm on Tuesday 10th March 2026 (the “Closing Date”). Entries received after the Closing Date shall not be accepted.
The prize
The winner shall win the following:
- Their products will be stocked in Fortnum & Mason’s Piccadilly store for a minimum of 3 months, subject to contract.
- The opportunity to come into our Piccadilly store to sample their products for Fortnum's customers during the period that the products are stocked at Fortnum & Mason.
- Host an event in the Fortnum & Mason Food & Drink studio on Piccadilly to talk to customers about their business and products. The events can vary depending on the product, and more details around these events would be discussed if you are successful with launching your products at Fortnum's.
Winner selection and notification
The buying team will review the form submissions, and create a short list of products. A shortlist will be created and recipe sheets will be requested for these products. Following recipe sheet approval, the manufacturers of these products will be invited to come in to present their products to the Fortnum's buyers.
Following the presentations, the buying team will make their final selections, and the winners will be contacted using the email address and telephone number provided on the application form by Friday 24th April 2026. Final timings for launch in Fortnum's will be confirmed when the winners are contacted and contracts are signed.
The decision of the judges regarding any aspect of the competition is final and binding.
All entries shall be judged on the following criteria:
- The products must be delicious; this is the most important part of the selection criteria. The panel will have the opportunity to sample the products at the final judging round. We are looking for artisanal products that are made using locally sourced ingredients where possible.
- We are looking for products that have a clean ingredients list, and ingredients should be ethically sourced.
- We’d like the products to be strong on sustainability, be that being made using regenerative ingredients, and being in plastic free packaging to being made in a factory that runs on solar power. For manufacturers who are successful to come into Piccadilly for the final judging round, we’d like to hear about the key sustainability stories during this presentation.
Intellectual Property and confidentiality
By submitting your entry, recipe, and any accompanying material, you warrant that: (i) you are the owner and that your submission does not infringe upon any third party's rights; and (ii) there are no conflicting agreements in place that restrict usage of your recipe submission.
Fortnum & Mason will keep your entry and related information confidential, subject to any requirement to disclose it in accordance with applicable law or to our business advisors.
Data protection and publicity
By entering the competition, you understand that for the purposes of administering the competition and prize fulfilment, it is necessary for Fortnum & Mason to hold and process your personal data. For more information on how Fortnum's manages your personal data, please read our privacy notice.
If you are successful in this competition, you agree that Fortnum & Mason may use your name and details of your business and products on its website, in public announcements and publicity to announce the winners of this competition and for any other reasonable and related promotional purposes.
Fortnum's is delighted to share that it is intending to document the story of the Open Call as part of a new television series to be aired in Summer 2026, and it is therefore a condition of entry that you are comfortable with participating in the filming of the show. This may include interviews with you and capturing footage of your creative process. We will retain editorial control over the output and will consult with you prior to filming, however please do not enter if you do not wish to participate. We will share further details nearer the time, including an agreement for you to sign to ensure that we are able to use your name, voice and likeness as part of the production.
General Terms
Fortnum & Mason and its associated agencies, companies and distributors will not be liable whether in contract, tort (including negligence), breach of statutory duty, or otherwise for any (i) indirect, special or consequential loss, (ii) loss of profits (whether direct or indirect), (iii) expense or damage, which is suffered or sustained in connection with this competition, except for any liability which cannot be excluded by law.
If there is any reason to believe that there has been a breach of these Terms and Conditions or if Fortnum & Mason believes that your conduct may be unlawful or otherwise bring the Competition into disrepute, Fortnum & Mason may, at its sole discretion, reserve the right to make render your submission void and will entitle Fortnum's to exclude you from participating in the competition.
The decision of Fortnum & Mason regarding any aspect of the competition is final and binding and no correspondence will be entered into.
Fortnum & Mason reserves the right to suspend, cancel, or amend the competition where it becomes necessary to do so, with no liability to any applicants, nominators or third parties.
This competition and all issues arising out of it shall be governed in accordance with the laws of England and Wales, and are subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English courts.
The Promoter: Fortnum & Mason Plc, 181 Piccadilly, London, W1A 1ER, United Kingdom.