Food Matters Live is the most targeted event for NPD leaders defining the future of food innovation.
Cutting-edge ingredient innovation. Groundbreaking scientific insights. Technical excellence.
For two inspiring days, R&D leaders, NPD specialists and food innovators came together in Ascot to explore revolutionary ingredient solutions, unlock breakthroughs in nutrition science, and address regulatory and product development challenges. At the event, attendees learnt from game-changing insights, connected with industry experts, and turned complex challenges into exciting opportunities.
In today’s fast-moving landscape, success goes beyond innovation. It’s about advancing science, driving sustainability, and creating meaningful collaborations. Food Matters Live Ascot brought all this together. As we turn our attention to the key trends, issues and innovations set to dominate 2026, Ascot was the final opportunity of the year to gain the crucial insider tips and expertise for the food, beverage and nutrition industry to stay ahead of consumer trends and expectations. Food Matters Live Ascot was the most targeted gathering of professionals working in NPD, R&D and innovation.
Exclusive to NPD, technical & innovation leaders
Attendees included:
At the event
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Tastes of Better
A unique set of innovative ingredient showcases for all those working at the heart of product development. Each showcase took VIPs through an inspiring and experiential journey of technical insights and taste, designed to support them in solving new product development challenges and accelerating and sustaining innovation.
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Insights and Trends
Featuring over 100 international speakers, this series of talks, case studies and panel discussions enabled attendees to stay ahead of consumer and retail trends, debate the future of food and positive nutrition, celebrate success, identify areas of challenge, and explore how technology can empower innovation in their product development.
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NPD Discovery Roundtables
Led by industry experts, Table Talks provided a setting for informed but intimate discussion around key themes. Discussion points included innovative ingredients, sustainable sourcing, formulation support and advice, technology patents, investment, regulation and cross-sector industry collaboration.
Latest speakers to join the line-up included
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Alexander Mathys
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Patrick Rödel
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Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro
Views from our VIPs
Just a short note to say how much I enjoyed the Inspiring Nutrition event. I thought it was incredibly well organised, with some very interesting expert speakers and panellists.

Tastes of Better is a great event to keep on track with the latest and future of the food industry. Friendly and relaxing format for quality networking.
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I found Tastes of Better really insightful and it brought the whole supply and manufacturer piece together. But also, it was very informative and on trend and what we need to be thinking about going forward. It was a really good detailed insight
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Really insightful talks and a lovely group of attendees whom I got to know throughout the day. The sessions were great and I loved seeing different topics being discussed by companies from a variety of areas within the industry
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What a fantastic day - I have to say, this was one of the best food events of this type I have attended. The balance was right between technical information, food sampling, interesting debates and networking.
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I thoroughly enjoyed attending the Tastes of Better event. It was great to step away from the day-to-day and think about the bigger picture, trends impacting our category, emerging opportunities and interact with some great food ingredient businesses
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