Andrew Goodacre has been the CEO of Bira since 2018 and is passionate about working with the high street and supporting small businesses.
Mr Goodacre has a strong background in retail and hospitality, and since taking up the role, has been integral in pushing forward independent retailers and showcasing their importance of them being at the very heart of every good high street throughout the UK and a vital part of life and the economy within local communities.
A passionate operator, I love to support Founders grow their operations with people, our values and standards at the heart of everything we do.
Dave Christie is a commercial strategist and international speaker who has worked with more than 300 food, drink, health and wellness brands across the UK, Europe and the Middle East.
As Head of Business at Health Stores UK and founder of Flourish Foundry, Dave works at the point where ambitious brands meet the commercial realities of retail. His experience spans independent stores, wholesalers, distributors and major UK retailers, giving him a practical understanding of what buyers expect, why promising products struggle to gain traction and what brands must do to build lasting commercial relationships.
Dave is also a regular contributor to Healthy Business magazine and is known for bringing a direct, commercially grounded perspective to the stage. His talks challenge founders to look beyond the product, understand the pressures facing buyers and build businesses that are easier to trust, support and grow.
Mark Birchall is the acclaimed chef-owner of Moor Hall Restaurant with Rooms, which he opened in March 2017. Located in Lancashire, Moor Hall showcases delicate, produce-driven menus inspired by its exceptional surroundings and home-grown ingredients.
Within just six months of opening, Moor Hall earned its first Michelin star, followed by a second in the 2019 Michelin Guide. In 2025, it achieved the coveted three Michelin stars, joining an elite group of only 34 restaurants worldwide—and just two in the UK—to hold both three Michelin stars and a Michelin Green Star, which it received in 2022 for its sustainability efforts.
Moor Hall also holds five AA rosettes and World Class status in the Good Food Guide. Since first being crowned National Restaurant of the Year in 2019, Moor Hall has continued to feature among the elite restaurants in the UK, remaining in the National Restaurant Awards Top 5 for 7 consecutive years and securing multiple No. 1 and No. 2 rankings throughout that period.
In recognition of his culinary excellence, Mark Birchall was named ‘Best Chef in the UK’ at the AA Hospitality Awards 2022, and in 2025 received both the ‘Chef of the Year’ title at the National Restaurant Awards and the ‘Chef Award’ at The Cateys.
Mark is currently on the judging panel for several presitigous competitions including; The Roux Scholarship, The National Chef of The Year and The Royal Academy of Culinary Arts
In October 2017, Mark opened The Barn at Moor Hall, a neighbourhood restaurant which was awarded a Michelin Star in 2022 and currently holds three AA rosettes.
Before founding Moor Hall, Mark spent over two decades honing his craft in esteemed kitchens across England and abroad, including a formative stint at El Celler de Can Roca in Girona, twice voted the best restaurant in the world. A native of Chorley, Lancashire, he trained at Runshaw College and was awarded the Roux Scholarship in 2011.
20 years leadership experience in retail and hospitality. Grounded in operational roles but with experience across commercial, product, marketing, and supply chain. Now using this experience to develop propositions which are more relevant, scalable, and profitable. Specializing in coffee business development. Currently leading the development of the bp UK retail and hospitality businesses.