Julian Metcalfe

Founder, itsu and Pret

Julian Metcalfe is the co-founder of Pret A Manger and founder of itsu and Metcalfe’s Food Company.

Pret A Manger has over 400 shops worldwide operating in New York, Boston, Chicago, Paris, Hong Kong and the UK. Julian opened the first Pret in Victoria in central London in 1986.

itsu, founded in 1999, has paved the way for light, healthy Asian inspired food on the go. Julian’s goal is for itsu to be the first truly healthy, fast food concept making delicious light food on site and providing a contemporary, attractive ambience for customers.

Julian started Metcalfe’s Food Company in 2009 initially to make popcorn to sell to itsu and Pret. Metcalfe’s Food Company is more than just a popcorn company and has two brands (itsu [grocery] and Metcalfe’s skinny).

Julian lives in London with his wife Brooke and 7 children.

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Julian has mentored…

Rubies in the Rubble

Rubies in the Rubble is a sustainable food brand, making high quality relishes and jams out of surplus produce that would otherwise go to waste.

Rubies in the Rubble
Two Fingers Brewing Company
The Gravity Light Foundation

Julian was wonderfully honest and had an amazing empathy and understanding for our position. He was a great listener with ideas that felt balanced and achievable for us. We really valued his time.”

Jenny Dawson, Founder of Rubies in the Rubble

Two Fingers Brewing Company

Two Fingers Brewing Co. is the only beer brand that gives back to the men that drink it, by giving all of its profits to Prostate Cancer UK.

Rubies in the Rubble
Two Fingers Brewing Company
The Gravity Light Foundation

Julian is everything you could ask for in an expert: accomplished, bright, friendly, fair, honest and enthusiastic. I’ve come away with bags of ideas, energy and determination to bring back to the team.

Matt Sadler, Co-Founder of Two Fingers Brewing Co

The Gravity Light Foundation

GravityLight Is An Innovative Device That Generates Light From The Lift Of A Weight….

Rubies in the Rubble
Two Fingers Brewing Company
The Gravity Light Foundation

Julian offered reassuring and liberating advice – being an entrepreneur is organised chaos! It was a pleasure to learn from such a serially successful entrepreneur and hear his tips on how to take GravityLight to the next stage.”

Caroline Angus, Co-Founder of The Gravity Light Foundation

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