Ian Dodds is a co-founder of KERB, built in Petra Barran's kitchen, feeding the builders, architects, designers and journalists arriving at King's Cross at the very start of its regeneration. From that building site, KERB grew into an international hospitality organisation operating across London, San Francisco, Berlin and Copenhagen and supporting upwards of 500 independent food and drink businesses. The company now generates £40m annually across markets, food halls and international partnerships for the businesses it represents.
Over twelve years Ian led new business origination, developer and landlord relationships, and international expansion, working with Argent, Land Securities, INGKA Centres and Blackstone, and leading every function that touches a food-led project, from deal origination through to the teams that deliver it. He built Seven Dials Market and also founded the inKERBator, a social enterprise programme backing food operators from underrepresented communities. He was appointed to the London Markets Board by the Deputy Mayor of London, a position he held until 2025.
He now runs Common Provisions, working with developers, operators and investors on the origination, structuring and delivery of food-led destinations. Spanning commercial logic through operator curation, deal structuring, planning and delivery, through to leading the teams that make it real.
He brings with him a broad network across development, architecture, law, food, operations and marketing.
Open to the right projects, big and small.
ian@commonprovisions.com
Seven Dials Market 2019-onwards
Saluhall, IKEA San Francisco 2022-2024
KERB Camden Market 2016-2018
KERB Clubhouse 2014-2015
KERB Markets 2012-onwards
inKERBator 2013-onwards
How to Build a Food-Led Destination. Not Just Open One.
Six principles for developers, operators and investors
“The question worth asking at the start of any food-led project is not "what should this look like?" It is: who is it for, and how does it work?”
Beak: strategic advisor,
venue and business expansion.
Common Cause: director of historic farmer's market and regional producer network.
Soft Candy: co-founder, mixed-use food, retail and creative studios.
KERB+: co-founder, food business incubator social enterprise.