Be inspired at Food Matters Live 2016: there is no better place to discover the latest industry trends, innovation and insight into the food and drinks industry.
From free-from to functional, natural to novel, sugar free to sustainable – meet the innovators defining the latest trends in food and drink.
Returning to London’s Excel on 22-24 November, Food Matters Live brings together some of the newest and most exciting products and ingredients to hit the shelves this year.
More than 600 organisations – from global, multinational companies to young and emerging enterprises from the UK and internationally – are taking part in the Food Matters Live exhibition, with more than 15,000 visitors expected to attend from across the food and drink industry.
Novel foods becoming mainstream
The diverse range of products is arranged in themed areas, such as the Enterprise Zone, which focuses on innovative start-ups demonstrating new products, including new forms of protein like MicroNutis’ barbecue-flavoured crickets, Jimini’s crunchy Greek spice grasshoppers, and Mophagy’s whole roasted mealworms.
Other new products fresh on the shelves include Battle Oats’ gluten-free, protein-packed snack bars, Elementary Life’s superfood supplements, Good Grain Bakery’s vegan, gluten-free breads and crostini, and Fodify Foods’ spice pots free of gluten, dairy, onion and garlic for people with food intolerances and IBS.
To help emerging businesses between two and five years old, Food Matters Live has introduced the Development Zone – a place for showcasing latest products and services in food and drink, health, nutrition and sustainability. Here visitors can sample Jools’ superfruit juices with vitamins and kelp pearls, while savouring Limpopo Butchers’ fresh and dried meat, or try Nutristrength’s classic vanilla or roasted cocoa pea protein for a dairy-free boost to any smoothie drink.
Sweet-tasting innovation
As demand increases for reformulation and innovation in healthier and ‘better-for-you’ drinks, visitors should seek out the Drink Well zone, featuring manufacturers such as Molecule Beverages’ low-sugar, fat-free coconut and mango protein water – or Vit Hit’s healthy juice-based vitamin drinks. Alternatively, try Yakult probiotics or Protein Water Co’s refreshers, or even a humble cuppa – transformed by Teapigs and Tetley.
Elsewhere, gluten, dairy-free and vegan foods are featured in the Free-From Zone, where visitors can find Saile Irish Seaweed Foods’ organic kelp krispies mix – chocolate bites that don’t even taste like seaweed – while Nutural World will tempt visitors with a range of nut-based spreads, such as hazelnut and carob. Suma Wholefoods will be offering samples of their vegetarian, organic and Fairtrade chilled and frozen products, while Protein Pow will show how its all-purpose protein mixes can help cooks create their own protein bars, shakes and pancakes devoid of artificial sweeteners, refined sugars and gluten. For a natural boost of energy, Creative Nature superfoods have created nutrient-rich organic cacao powder, nibs and brownie mix.
Natural selection
With organic sales set to break the £2 billion mark this year, natural and organic food and drink such as Rachelli’s Italian ice cream, Googly Fruit children’s snacks and Utkins UK5 organic vodka feature throughout the exhibition.
Ever louder demands for the food and drink industry to do more to tackle obesity and reduce sugar in its products has prompted the growth in no added sugar products, like Shameless smoothies, Oliphen chocolate with stevia and Naturelly jelly juice – fruity, natural, no-spill treats to fill little tummies after school.
At the same time, advice can be found at the PureCircle Stevia Knowledge Hub on formulating with stevia, taste performance and product positioning – as well as the role stevia can play in modern diets.
A sneak preview of the products that will be on display can be found in Food Matters Live’s new online directory.
Live attractions, demonstrations and tastings give visitors a chance to investigate what is shaping the future of food – from consumer food choices at the Experimental Café, organised in association with the Institut Paul Bocuse, to new concepts underpinning innovations in ‘better-for-you’ food and drink in the Evidence Base theatre.
The FEED Sensorium’s educational sensorial experiments question the way food products and experiences are currently designed. Visitors will discover a range of science innovations, from advances in cellular agriculture to the exciting potential of electrically stimulated flavour.
400 expert speakers…
Alongside the exhibition, BBC journalists Anita Anand, Jonathan Dimbleby and Sarah Montague will host the Food Matters Live conference, which brings together business leaders, psychologists, chefs and commentators with politicians, health campaigners and food scientists to debate some of the most hotly contested issues to affect the food and drink industry this year.
The UK government’s decision to introduce a sugar tax on carbonated soft drinks, combined with a controversial obesity strategy, will come under the spotlight – while eating behaviour expert Prof Brian Wansink will consider profitable solutions to make consumers healthier, such as slim by design, the small plate movement and smarter lunchroom approach.
Other debates will examine the psychology of food choices, what it will take for society to change food consumption patterns to a more sustainable model, and the impact of Brexit on industry.
Among the conference speakers are celebrated chef Raymond Blanc, sugar and carbohydrate expert Prof Julian Cooper, health and shadow ministers, behavioural economist Tim Harford, neuroscientist Daniel Glaser, scientist Prof Lord Robert Winston and industry representatives from Britvic, Mars, Brakes, Apetito, Tesco and Marks & Spencer.
Meanwhile, cross-sector experts will use a series of case studies in a range of seminars to explore the future of free-from food, consumer trends, building a sustainable food business, and how packaging design and creative marketing can help drive healthy food choices.
Briony Mansell-Lewis, Food Matters Live director, said: “From retail, marketing and manufacturing to policy, health and nutrition, we’re hosting great minds. With 15,000 influential visitors expected to attend, Food Matters Live is rapidly becoming the best place for retailers, buyers and manufacturers to discover the latest products and innovation – and stay one step ahead of fast changing consumer appetites.”
Food Matters Live is free to attend, including entry to the conference, seminars and all visitor attractions. Simply register online through Food Matters Live’s website.
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