Meet the team

    Annie Stirk – Founder and Director

Annie has spent a lifetime enjoying learning, teaching and communicating about food. One of the country’s most prominent food stylists, home economist and food festival judges, she is also a respected broadcaster and presenter, both in television and radio, and has worked alongside top chefs including Gary Rhodes, Brian Turner, Ken Hom, Anthony Worrall Thompson and Sophie Grigson.

Initially a lecturer in food, nutrition and Cordon Bleu cookery, Annie began her media career working as a home economist, food stylist and producer on numerous television shows such as BBC TV’s Rhodes Around Britain, Sophie Grigson’s Sunshine Foods and ITV’s This Morning. She has also been a presenter on many other programmes, including Open House with Gloria Hunniford and Channel 4’s You Are What You Eat.

Annie spent five years as PR manager at the York Festival of Food and Drink, and continues to be involved in food and drink at the highest levels, as a consultant for Yorkshire Life magazine, as a board member of the West Yorkshire Tourism Partnership, as the chair of the Yorkshire Life Food and Dink Awards and as well as a regular radio contributor and judge at various food festivals.

For more than 35 years, Annie has worked with the best products and the biggest names in the food industry including working alongside the Food Development facility at Hallam University. She has food covered from every angle – teaching and demonstrating, styling and judging, TV and radio broadcasting, events organisation, PR and marketing. Through her work with Absolutely Food, Annie really helps food and drink businesses to reach their full potential.

    Ella Sykes – PR and Marketing Assistant

Creativity should be Ella’s middle name! As well as graduating with a BA in Arts from York St John University, Ella has assisted with event management projects at The Events Company in Pickering, and project-managed and marketed part of the Create 10 Exhibition and Design Show. She also put her passion for people to good use in various roles within the hospitality and retail industries before joining Absolutely Food. Tenacious, bright and enthusiastic, Ella combines an eye for detail and design with confident communication and a wealth of creative ideas.

    Helen Bacon – PA/Office Administrator

A highly organised, experienced and reliable office administrator and PA, Helen makes sure that you’ll always get a friendly welcome if you phone or drop by, and oversees the process of getting your message out smoothly and efficiently. But she doesn’t just bring great support skills to her role – she also has extensive experience of the food and hospitality industry, allowing her to understand your particular needs and pressures. As well as working for a local preserves company and farm shop and café, Helen spent five years working for a tourism business responsible for assessing accommodation throughout England on behalf of VisitBritain. Her hospitality experience also takes in leading brands such as Consort Hotels (now Best Western) and Forte Posthouse.