M&S Food has announced a groundbreaking partnership with the World Food Photography Awards, sponsored by Bimi, to launch a new award specifically designed to champion emerging talent in food photography. The M&S Food Rising Star award represents a significant opportunity for the next generation of food photographers to break through to professional levels in what is considered the leading global celebration of food photography.
The competition requires entrants to submit a carefully curated portfolio consisting of five images that showcase a range of beautiful, irresistible studio-styled food photography. The winner will receive what many food photographers consider the ultimate prize: an invitation to shoot an advertising campaign for M&S Food, providing invaluable professional exposure and experience.
"We work with some amazing food photographers who do incredible work for us, bringing the M&S Food vision to life," says Rich Robinson, Head of Creative at M&S Food. "But now we're excited to give the next generation a platform to help them make the leap into professional photography." This initiative reflects M&S Food's commitment to nurturing new talent while maintaining their reputation for high-quality visual content.
Caroline Kenyon, Founder of the World Food Photography Awards, expressed her enthusiasm about the partnership, stating, "This is such an exciting new award. When we first launched in 2011, I was determined we should have the involvement of M&S as the great patron of the best in food photography, and was delighted their Food Director became a judge. What a wonderful opportunity for the lucky winner!"
The World Food Photography Awards, sponsored by Bimi and now in its 15th year, has earned recognition as the "Oscars of food photography." The competition welcomes both amateur and professional photographers from around the world to share their captures of food stories that span the complete spectrum of culinary experiences. With over 25 categories, the awards acknowledge that food touches lives in diverse ways, from growing and harvesting to cooking, eating, celebrating, and surviving.
All finalist images, including those from the M&S Food Rising Star category, will be featured in a prestigious exhibition at the Mall Galleries in London. Additionally, a hand-picked selection of finalist images will be displayed at the iconic Fortnum & Mason store in Piccadilly, providing winners with exposure in one of London's most renowned luxury food retailers.
Photographers interested in participating can find more information and submit their entries at www.worldfoodphotographyawards.com. The competition window closes on Sunday, February 8th, 2026, giving aspiring photographers several months to prepare their submissions. The awards run from November 18, 2025, through February 8, 2026, providing ample time for both submission and exhibition phases of the competition.
