CxO Dinner
by Food Cluster Hamburg
by Zaparkanszky-Wiederhold
First Edition
On Tuesday, November 4, 2025, Food Cluster Hamburg welcomed guests to Hamburg's Speicherstadt for a new event format: the CxO Dinner. The engaging conversations, positive feedback, and lasting impressions from the evening confirm that the new format was a great success.
Why a CxO Dinner?
With the CxO Dinner, we want to offer decision-makers from the food industry — both from our network and beyond — a platform for exchange and connection. Not in an office, not in a conference room, and not online, but in a relaxed atmosphere over good food and inspiring conversation.
Under the motto "Shaping the Future Together: Innovation & Responsibility in Food Production," we launched the first edition of this new format.
Food Cluster Hamburg as a Network Agency
A strong network thrives on exchange, personal connections, and shared goals. That is exactly what drives us: we want to connect, strengthen, and increase the visibility of the food industry in the Hamburg metropolitan region — for greater innovation, collaboration, and future readiness.
Exchange, Movement, and New Perspectives
Following an opening address by moderator Jennifer Sarah Boone, who encouraged guests to seek out direct dialogue rather than relying solely on digital communication, the evening continued with dinner. Lively conversations began as early as the starter course, with ideas exchanged and new contacts made.
Before the main course, a short "seat swap with a twist" brought fresh energy to the room: each guest had to match their ingredient to the corresponding table recipe, leading them to their new seat. The result: new conversation groups, fresh perspectives, and plenty of energy.
Dessert was then served informally at standing tables — the perfect setting to continue the conversations already underway.
Tower of the Future
The evening concluded with a creative team challenge: using only spaghetti and marshmallows, participants were tasked with building the "Tower of the Future." With enthusiasm, ambition, and impressive ingenuity, the teams created remarkable structures. The winning team was awarded a free ticket to our next event, the Think Tank Food 2025.
Conclusion
It was a wonderful evening — and for the Food Cluster Hamburg team, the launch of a new event format that brings people together, lets ideas grow, and shapes the future of the food industry, together.
Photos: Julia Grudda
