Beverage News
The Freshest Drink Trends & Innovations Are On Tap at Food Matters Live 2018
Be it kombucha tea, non-alcoholic spirits or gluten-free beers, Food Matters Live 2018 serves up unmissable insight into healthy drinks trends and showcases the newest entrepreneurs shaking up the market.
Thousands of food and drink industry professionals will gather to hear agenda-setting debates and explore food and drink innovations, when Food Matters Live returns to London’s ExCeL from 20-22 November.
And, with the focused business opportunities provided by its dedicated matchmaking service, there is nowhere better for start-ups to meet the buyers looking for the next best-selling drinks brand.
Debates on the main conference stage will consider the biggest issues, from industry concerns about doing business post-Brexit to the impact of Blue Planet II on plastic pollution and the appetite for further regulation on sugar, following the soft drinks levy.
Among the 45 influential speakers will be Britvic’s Chief Marketing Officer Matt Barwell, Waitrose Nutrition Manager Moira Howie, Coca Cola European Partners’ Julian Hunt and Bayer Foundations CEO Thimo V Schmitt-Lord MBE.
Meanwhile hundreds of industry experts will offer insight and guidance in a series of seminars covering key health and wellbeing themes, including retail trends, nutrition for health and wellbeing, tackling obesity, packaging design and marketing.
Among speakers, Jonny Forsyth, Global Drinks Analyst at Mintel, will look at how the alcohol industry can capitalise on the free-from revolution while David Hodgson, CEO of PlanB! free range Wines presents a case study on the evolving taste for alcohol-free drinks.
Other seminars include insight into the impact of the sugar tax on consumer behaviour, the challenges of exporting gluten-free beer as well as successful retail marketing strategies for entrepreneurs to secure shelf space, led by Ugly Drinks co-founder Joe Benn.
And visitors can get a taste of food and drink innovation in the Food Matters Live exhibition, featuring 800 companies, including the largest gathering of ingredients companies in the UK.
Enjoy award-winning probiotic kefirs from Mount Olympus, natural, health-targeted Luhv drinks and antioxidant cold brew coffee drink LivOn in the exhibition’s Drink Well Zone.
The newest products, including 100% natural clean energy drink Flyte and natural health shots from London-based start-up Bumblezest will be on show in the Start Up Zone, reserved for businesses that are less than two years old.
International pavilions will feature global innovations while the Food Matters Live Research Hub brings together academics and leading research organisations to offer insight into emerging food science and technology.
And among live attractions on the exhibition floor, the Nutraceutical Showcase, supported by the Council for Responsible Nutrition UK, showcases innovations in dietary supplements and sports nutrition while the International Innovations demonstration theatre will feature demonstrations from chefs and nutritionists from around the world.
Entrepreneurs with new healthy drinks to bring to market, can make the most of Match, Food Matters Live’s enhanced match-making service and dedicated meeting space, to meet buyers and distributors on the lookout for exciting new products.
Among buyers at this year’s event will be: Planet Organic’s Al Overton, BoroughBox’s Neena Sandhu, CAMRA’s Paul Saunderson, Suma Wholefoods’ Julie Black, Creed Foodservice’s Tom Workman and Notonthehighstreet.com’s Jack Whatley.
Briony Mansell-Lewis, Food Matters Live Director, said: “We’re delighted to welcome so many innovative food and drink brands to Food Matters Live, showcasing new products and concepts which respond to health and wellbeing trends.
“Drinks manufacturers will find a host of new ideas to help them stay on trend and keep ahead of their competitors.”
Food Matters Live is on at London’s ExCeL from 20 to 22 November 2018 and is free to attend if you pre-register, including entry to the conference, seminars and visitor attractions. Register now at www.foodmatterslive.com
Source: Food Matters Live 2018
