GroceryAid has named journalist and broadcaster, Steph McGovern, as the host of D&I in Grocery LIVE!, which aims accelerate a truly diverse and inclusive grocery industry. Presenter, journalist, content creator, speaker and disability activist, Lucy Edwards, will also join Steph on stage as the keynote speaker at the event, which takes place on 26 September 2025 at the InterContinental London – The O2.
Steph McGovern is a passionate advocate for inclusion, using her platform as a broadcaster to promote diversity and acceptance, particularly around social mobility and women in business. She is also involved in community and education projects outside of broadcasting, mentoring young people in her native Teesside and supporting initiatives that empower disadvantaged children through her patronage of the charity Rubies.
Having lost her sight at the age of 17 due to Incontinentia Pigmenti, Edwards has dedicated her career to raising awareness around the challenges faced by the blind and visually impaired community and promoting a more inclusive society. She is a leading voice in the global diversity, equity and inclusion space, and consults for a variety of businesses. Edwards will offer an immersive and experiential session which brings to life the commercial value of D&I alongside its role in shaping culture.
Felicity Bexton, Category Buying Manger at Tesco and Chair of the D&I in Grocery LIVE! Steering Group, said: “Steph and Lucy are both passionate and dedicated to diversity and inclusion and will be invaluable additions to this year’s event – we are absolutely delighted that they will join us to inspire the industry further by bringing their own perspective and experiences to the day.
“Our recently launched D&I in Grocery 2024 Impact Report and 2025 Maturity Model results have shown the great progress our industry is making, and yet never has it been more important to work together to ensure we stay on the right path. This event is a fantastic opportunity to bring everyone together to drive real change within the industry.”
Content on the day will be shaped by the results of the Maturity Model launched last year to track and measure annual D&I progress within the industry. This year will also see the return of the popular Topic Hacks which were launched in 2024. Bringing together a broad range of perspectives, skill sets and experiences, these sessions offer an innovative and collaborative approach to tackling key issues impacting D&I in the grocery industry.
D&I in Grocery LIVE! is the largest event of its kind, and aims to unite the sector through sharing, learning and driving change, bringing together over 1,300 colleagues across the grocery industry to experience a unique agenda that will inspire tangible takeaways and actions.
