After the sugar tax, with Brexit on the horizon, plastic under fire and a boom in free-from and vegan products, what’s next for the food and drink sector?
At this timely juncture, retail insiders cannot afford to miss Food Matters Live, a unique event dedicated to creating cross-sector connections focused on the future of food, drink and sustainable nutrition.
As health and wellbeing continue to dominate national debate around what we eat, retailers, manufacturers, industry leaders, start-ups and food innovators will share ideas and debate how the sector can work together, to solve its biggest challenges.
With proposals to ban checkout sweets in England, how are other countries reducing sugar? Should vegan and beef burgers be stocked side by side? How can retailers reduce fresh produce packaging, and can food design have an impact on the way we eat?
These and other issues will be tackled in a hugely comprehensive conference and seminar educational programme.
At the heart of the event, the main conference theatre will hear 50 influential speakers from ministers and scientists to renowned chefs and challenger brands bring thought leadership and an international perspective to the issues of the day, from the appetite for further sugar regulation to concerns about post-Brexit trade with Europe.
And 80 expert-led seminars based around key themes like tackling obesity and retail trends in health and wellbeing, the future of the free-from market and sustainable food futures will offer visitors practical insight.
Brought to life with case studies, seminars will look at topics from the latest developments in plant-based “meat”, the rise of non-alcoholic drinks, technical innovations to reduce food waste and the future for paper-based packaging and bioplastics.
More than 800 exhibitors will offer a taste of the food, drink and nutrition products of the future, arranged in zones reflecting the big retail growth areas, from healthy snacking and better-for-you drinks to free-from products and sports nutrition.
And visitors can sample exciting new products, from Tibet-inspired Tsampa energy bars to savoury “Bitterballen” – Dutch Balls – in the Start Up zone, reserved for the latest entrepreneurial ventures.
With the largest gathering of ingredients companies in the UK, Food Matters Live offers an unmissable chance to sample the ingredients set to reshape healthy food and drink, from non-dairy butter flavour to protein-rich buffalo powder and organic acai.
Live cooking demonstrations and installations on the exhibition floor, hosted by a cast of international presenters, will bring the latest innovations to life.
And a dedicated matchmaking service will connect buyers with the most innovative product and ingredient suppliers seeking to shake up the future of food and drink.
Food Matters Live is on at London’s ExCeL from 20 to 22 November 2018, is free to attend, including entry to the conference, seminars and visitor attractions.
