Main stage insights programme
Main stage partner
The insights and trends main stage will give you access to a wealth of knowledge across food innovation. Discover influential speakers who will share thought-leadership, key insights and best practice through keynote talks, inspiring panel discussions and ground-breaking case studies.
The Tastes of Better ingredient showcases run in parallel with the main stage insights programme. Select the Tastes of Better tab at the top of the programme to view the timings for these sessions.
Manchester
08:30 - 09:00
Insights and trends
Registration and refreshments
08:45 - 09:20
Insights and trends
Registration and refreshments
09:00 - 09:10
Insights and trends
Chair’s opening remarks and partner welcome panel - Ingredient innovation shaping the future of food and positive nutrition
09:10 - 09:45
Insights and trends
Keynote panel – Industry insights into how trends are driving market development and opportunities
09:20 - 09:30
Insights and trends
Chair’s opening remarks and partner welcome panel - ingredient innovation shaping the future of food and positive nutrition
09:30 - 09:50
Insights and trends
Keynote – Shaping tomorrow’s food: a collaborative approach to translating research into sustainable healthy foods based on alternative proteins
09:45 - 10:45
Insights and trends
Panel discussion - Unpacking the UPF debate: implications for the food industry, public health and product development
Whatever your view on UPF categorisation, impact or importance, the debate isn’t going away. Consumers are ever-more engaged in discussion around nutrition and the health risks associated with added sugar and excessive processing. But to what extent is the social media furore based in science or detracting from other nutritional challenges? How can industry unpick the challenges and navigate the noise?
Giles Yeo MBE
Professor of Molecular Neuroendocrinology at MRC Metabolic Diseases Unit
University of Cambridge,
Rob Hobson
Registered Nutritionist,
Matthew McAuliffe
Plant and Futures Director
The Compleat Food Group,
Anthony Warner
& Writer
Development Chef,
Natalie Rouse
Nutritional Researcher and PhD Candidate
Swansea University,
Leo Campbell
Co-Founder
Modern Baker,
09:45 - 10:45
10:00 - 11:00
10.00 - 11.00
Insights and trends
Panel discussion - From insight to action: what do today’s biggest trends mean for product development?
Yilmaz Güney
Global Category Manager
Döhler,
Juliane Caillouette-Noble
Managing Director
The Sustainable Restaurant Association,
Andy Thomas
Founder and CEO
BetterYou,
Mark Schomberg
Culinary and NPD Manager
The Kraft Heinz Company,
Andy Hodgson
Client Business Partner
CGA by NIQ,
Richard Neish
Global Director, Consumer Insight Trend Intelligence
IFF,
11:00 - 12:00
11:15 - 12:15
11.00 - 12.00
Insights and trends
Exploring the latest innovations and insights into gut health: opportunities at the cornerstone of positive nutrition
11:00 – 11:15 | Insights into Consumer Appetite for Gut Health: How is the Trend Evolving?
Mike Hughes, FMCG Gurus
11:15 – 11:30 | Spotlight on the Interplay Between Gut Health and the Menopause
Tanja Harrison, Registered Nutritionist and Regional Representative for the North-West, Association for Nutrition & Founder, The Menopause Larder
11:30 – 12:00 | Panel Discussion: Translating Science into Opportunities for NPD
Erick Vera Bazan
Founder & CEO
Valley Crops,
Dr Holly Neill
Assistant Science Manager
Yakult,
Dr Alexander Smerz
Head of Business Unit Health,
Döhler Group and Director of The Future of Nutrition and Longevity Institute.,
Luke Heeney
Head of Product
Biotiful Gut Health,
Elin Roberts
Co-Founder
Better Nature,
11.15 - 12.15
Insights and trends
Trends in active nutrition: opportunities for product development
11:15 - 11:35 | Sports and Active Nutrition: The Political, Policy and Regulatory Landscape in Europe
Aimee Wheeler, Senior Regulatory Manager, The Hut Group and Vice Chair, ESSNA
11:35 - 11:55 | Exploring the evidence-base for supplementation
Dr Emily Jevons, Nutritionist, Cycling Team Picnic PostNL World Tour Men’s Team and Nutritionist & Brand Manager, Total Endurance Nutrition
11:55 - 12:15 | Mapping the market: understanding how different generations and cohorts are engaging with active nutrition
Dr Mark Evans, Senior Scientist, Holland and Barrett
12:15 - 13:15
12:30 - 13:15
NPD Discovery Table Talks
NPD Discovery Table Talks
Smart Snacking for a Happy Gut: Science of Nourishing Your Microbiome
Dr. Alexander Smerz - Head of Business Unit Taste, Döhler Group
Yilmaz Güney - Global Category Manager, Döhler Group
Supporting your functional food development
Alie Coppolella - Market Manager, Azelis
Joe Yeates - Business Manager, Azelis
Unlocking Fibre Potential: Innovate with LifyWheat, a Wheat Flour with 10x More Fibre, or Flakes
Yoni Herst - Key Account Manager, Limagrain Ingredients
Anne Lionnet - Head of New Business, Limagrain Ingredients
Taste, trust and timing: the new rules of functional food development:
navigating consumer expectations while staying ahead of trends
Andrew Wiseman - Strategy Director, Mustard Research
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Formulating for HFSS compliance
Lauren Woodley - Head of Nutrition and Sensory Science, Nomad Foods Europe Ltd
12:30 - 13:30
12.15 - 13.00
NPD Discovery Table Talks
NPD Discovery Table Talks
Smart Snacking for a Happy Gut: Science of Nourishing Your Microbiome
Dr. Alexander Smerz - Head of Business Unit Taste, Döhler Group
Yilmaz Güney - Global Category Manager and Food Expert, Döhler Group
Unlocking Fibre Potential: Innovate with LifyWheat, a Wheat Flour with 10x More Fibre, or Flakes
Yoni Herst - Key Account Manager, Limagrain Ingredients
Anne Lionnet - Head of New Business, Limagrain Ingredients
Taste, trust and timing: the new rules of functional food development:
navigating consumer expectations while staying ahead of trends
Gareth Hodgson - Director Mustard Research
13:00 - 13:45
Insights and trends
Lunch and networking
13:15 - 14.00
Insights and trends
Lunch and networking
13:45 - 14:30
NPD Discovery Table Talks
NPD Discovery Table Talks
Innovative Taste Solutions to Address Market Challenges: From Cocoa Reduction to Sugar Reduction in Food Applications
Katharina Mahnken - Global Product Manager Taste, Döhler Group
Yilmaz Güney - Global Category Manager and Food Expert, Döhler Group
Unlocking Fibre Potential: Innovate with LifyWheat, a Wheat Flour with 10x More Fibre, or Flakes
Yoni Herst - Key Account Manager, Limagrain Ingredients
Anne Lionnet - Head of New Business, Limagrain Ingredients
Taste, trust and timing: the new rules of functional food development:
navigating consumer expectations while staying ahead of trends
Gareth Hodgson - Director, Mustard Research
Formulating for HFSS compliance
Lauren Woodley - Head of Nutrition and Sensory Science, Nomad Foods Europe Ltd
Effective collaboration between industry and academia
Mita Lad - Business Partnerships Manager, University of Nottingham
14:00 - 14:45
NPD Discovery Table Talks
NPD Discovery Table Talks
Innovative Taste Solutions to Address Market Challenges: From Cocoa Reduction to Sugar Reduction in Food Applications
Katharina Mahnken - Global Product Manager Taste, Döhler Group
Yilmaz Güney - Global Category Manager and Food Expert, Döhler Group
Supporting your functional food development
Alie Coppolella - Market Manager, Azelis
Joe Yeates - Business Manager, Azelis
Unlocking Fibre Potential: Innovate with LifyWheat, a Wheat Flour with 10x More Fibre, or Flakes
Yoni Herst - Key Account Manager, Limagrain Ingredients
Anne Lionnet - Head of New Business, Limagrain Ingredients
Taste, trust and timing: the new rules of functional food development:
navigating consumer expectations while staying ahead of trends
Andrew Wiseman - Strategy Director, Mustard Research
Effective collaboration between industry and academia
Mita Lad - Business Partnerships Manager, University of Nottingham
14:35 - 15:35
Insights and trends
Focus on fibre: evolving consumer awareness and demand
14:35 – 14:50 | Examining the evidence-base: how the latest science interprets the role of fibre in our overall physical and mental health
Clémence Cleave - Award-Winning Registered Nutritionist (MSc, RNutr) and Workplace Wellbeing Consultant, Rocket Fuel Wellbeing
14:50 – 15:35 | How can Industry respond? NPD challenges and opportunities
14:35 - 15:35
14:45 - 15:45
14:50 - 15:45
Insights and trends
Interpreting and implementing HFSS regulations: policy and practice
14:50 - 15:05 | Understanding HFSS regulations due October 2025
Lewis Wallis - Regulatory Affairs Advisor, Campden BRI Group
15:05 - 15:45 | Translating Guidance into Action: How Will the Changes Impact NPD, Governance, and Your Bottom Line?
Fiyin Makinwa
Senior Diet & Health Executive
FDF,
Dr Sally Moore
Registered Dietitian, Registered Nutritionist (Public Health), Programme Leader and Lecturer in Nutritional Science
University of Leeds,
Lauren Woodley
Head of Nutrition and Sensory Science
Nomad Foods,
Natascha Gaut
Director, Regulatory, Compliance and Investigations
DWF Law LLP,
15:45 - 16:45
Insights and trends
Examining the key drivers shaping the future of NPD: 2026 and beyond
15:45 – 16:05 | What's on the Horizon? How to Keep on Top of the Biggest Regulatory Changes in the UK/EU
Sharon Morey - Regulatory Affairs Manager, Campden BRI Group
16:05 – 16:45 | Panel discussion - Social media: managing misinformation around nutrition while creating product appeal and hype
15:45 - 16:45
16:00 - 17:00
16:45 - 16:50
Insights and trends
Chair’s closing remarks and end of Food Matters Live Manchester
16.00 - 17.00
Insights and trends
Progressing protein: pioneering insights and innovation in sustainable and plant-based foods
16:00 - 16:15 | Examining the Data: Drilling Down into Consumer Preferences in Protein
Hannah Cleland - Analyst, GlobalData
16:15 - 17:00 | Panel Discussion: Fuelling the Future of Sustainable Protein
- * Assessing how the UPF debate has altered consumer acceptance of alternative proteins
- * Identifying new ingredients coming on stream and shaping sustainable proteins
- * Anticipating how the category will evolve in the next 3-5 years
17.00 - 17.15
Insights and trends
Chair’s closing remarks and end of day one
Join the conversation
Take your involvement with Food Matters Live’s events to the next level. Whether it’s exploring latest announcements or connecting with fellow industry experts, this is your chance to have exclusive access and be part of our most engaged audience members.
