John Benson-Smith himself

High profile F&B industry pioneer, strategist, and award-winning former Chef of the Year, with over 40 years’ experience in Restaurants, Stadia, Food service, Retail, Theme parks and Arts. A product development specialist for various manufacturing companies including original flavour designer for Walkers Sensations Crisps.
John is straight talking, and uses his knowledge to rapidly understand clients’ needs, one of his key skills is to lead by example, enthusing those he works with and making change happen. His unique approach is working within client teams, structures and maximising F&B business with strategy, drive, and commercial acumen.
A former judge on BBC TV MasterChef and a regular past demonstrator at Ideal homes show, Restaurant show and BBC Good Food show. JBS can appreciate and has worked on sizable projects and multiple events, local, national, and international including Olympics, Healthcare National Health service.

Career experience working in world famous starred restaurants, including the three starred Michelin restaurant L’Oasis in La Napoule, Côte d’Azur South of France, and co-partnership with world famous Chef Marco Pierre-White. He has enjoyed for more than thirty years being an elected Master Chef of Great Britain.
Described as being the ‘Founding Father of Modern British Cuisine in Manchester’, this frequent traveller has consulted for clients in the Middle East, Spain, Italy, Germany, Greece, France, the Channel and Faroe Islands. John was commissioned as concept creator for Morrisons award winning supermarket retail stores with ‘Market Kitchen’.

Acclaimed Consultant Chef (Catering Consultant) to Manchester City Football Club (City Football Group) for 20 years which included designing the Catering services for the Etihad and first team training centre. His other stadia clients included FC Bayern, Real Madrid FC, Fulham FC, Watford FC, and Crystal Palace FC etc. He masterminded a 4.8 million pound design Catering fit of over one hundred areas of Etihad in 2012.

Lead on culinary experiences including detailed content designing and creating a wide range of comprehensive Gastronomy adventures and culinary experiences in Saudi for its future travel and tourism. He recalls his lengthy conversation with Mayada Badr CEO of Saudi Arabia’s Culinary Arts Commission with regards to the challenge of recruiting training and developing Saudi youth to support the Hospitality industry in huge new cities, mega cities and its growing demand in F&B industry.
John also master planned the creation of new Mediterranean dining concepts and opening of new restaurants and kitchens in Kuwait together with stewarding of the catering provision for the inaugural Saudi Cup International Horse Race meeting in Riyadh.