The Unifying Role of Food for Forced Migrants' Entrepreneurial Activities and Their Settlement in London

This qualitative study investigates an understudied area within the context of the role of food in migrant settlement, focusing on forced migrants'¹ adaptation to the London urban food industry through engagement in cookery classes, targeted to support migrant/refugee communities in their entrepreneurship journeys. Through analysis of interviews with 10 migrants and ethnographic observations of 7 cookery classes, this research examines how professional cooking and being part of a food network can be catalysts for entrepreneurial activities and provide pathways to independence. The findings reveal that migrants' work experience in cookery classes and training enable them to develop strong leadership skills and exercise micro-power practices challenging negative stereotypes such as migrants-as-vulnerable. This research contributes to the literature by enhancing understanding of a unique power dynamic in the context of food organizations and training programs that empower forced migrants in their entrepreneurial journey in the London food community.