Why TickEat is the Launchpad for Independent Food & Drink Brands
posted 14th July 2025
Breaking into the travel and leisure sector—airlines, rail, cruise lines, and attractions—can feel like cracking a secret code. For many independent food and drink brands, it’s a maze of gatekeepers, long sales cycles, and complex procurement processes that seem designed for big players with deep pockets.
TickEat was created to change that.
We’re here to open doors that were previously closed—or not even visible—to the small and mighty brands driving innovation in food and drink. Whether you’re hand-crafting biscuits in a commercial kitchen or scaling your first production run of plant-based snacks, TickEat is your launchpad into the world of travel and leisure buyers.
The Barriers Facing Challenger Brands
Let’s face it—getting your product into the hands of a major airline or cruise line isn't easy. Independent brands often grapple with:
- Lack of direct access to decision-makers
- Uncertainty around buyer expectations and requirements
- Limited budgets for sales, travel, or exhibitions
- No roadmap for navigating a highly-regulated, highly-specific market
Many great products never make it beyond retail shelves simply because they don’t know where—or how—to start.
TickEat x Evertaste: Opening Doors Across the Industry
As part of gategroup, the world’s leading provider of end-to-end onboard products and services, Evertaste is an expert in building bridges between quality and scale. Serving global customers in aviation, train travel, and convenience retail, their team understands how hard it can be for innovative brands to break into these sectors.
That’s why we were proud to welcome Greg Springer, Head, Commercial Development at Evertaste, to several of our buyer-facing events—including Dinner with the Buyer and Meet the Buyer—where he shared valuable insights from both sides of the table.
"Fantastic to be invited to be part of this, and share insights and hopefully a bit of inspiration. Looking forward to more activity with TickEat across 2025.”
— Greg Springer, Head, Commercial Development, Evertaste (on Dinner with the Buyer)
Greg also highlighted the unique value TickEat brings to procurement leaders actively seeking innovative brands:
“One of the best things about working with TickEat, is the access that TickEat have. Whether that's contacts in travel or access to an amazing range of smaller suppliers. For Evertaste, when we are looking to source new products for a solution like our Pub Box, a TickEat event is one of the best ways to find new brands!”
— Greg Springer, Head, Commercial Development, Evertaste
But Greg’s journey with TickEat goes back even further.
“Having had the fortune of sitting on both sides of the table, first as an attending supplier, and now as a buyer I am able to see the benefit to any business that participates and would have no hesitation in recommending the TickEat event to anyone lucky enough to be offered the opportunity to attend. I'm excited to progress some of the new business opportunities that have developed from this year’s event and am looking forward to next year’s event, that I know will be bigger and better (although I'm not sure how Heerum and the team keep surpassing what has come before)!”
— Greg Springer, Head, Commercial Development, Evertaste
Greg’s experience underscores what TickEat is all about: creating a platform where challenger brands can grow, evolve, and thrive—with the guidance of seasoned experts and real access to commercial opportunities.
Designed for SMEs, Priced for Reality
We believe cost shouldn't be a barrier to opportunity. That’s why our packages are affordable and scalable, with entry points that make sense for growing businesses.
From Starter Packs that help you test the waters, to premium options that position your brand in front of top-tier buyers, there’s a TickEat route that fits your stage of growth—and your budget.
More Than a Meeting. A Launchpad.
The TickEat journey doesn’t end after your first intro. Our team supports you with:
- Educational content tailored to food & drink brands entering travel and leisure
- Ongoing feedback from buyers so you can fine-tune your pitch
- Strategic guidance on packaging, pricing, compliance, and logistics
- Personalised introductions as new opportunities arise
We’re not just hosting events—we’re building a community of challenger brands ready to change the future of F&B in the travel and leisure sectors.
Ready to find your route to market?
🚀 Download our Starter Guides on the Resources side of this website to see which TickEat package is right for you—or book a call with our team to talk strategy.
Let’s open the right doors, together.
