Tastes of Better programme

Programme structure

Tastes of Better encompasses a blend of tasting sessions, technical presentations and valuable insights, offering knowledge about the latest ingredient solutions and how to successfully implement them into your product development and reformulation challenges.

Alongside the tasting sessions, the Insights programme is your chance to get ahead of the curve by tapping into leading-edge thinking and emerging trends in food and drink innovation.

On both days, you can expect five trend panels featuring a stellar line-up of speakers sharing the latest thinking on key topics, including positive nutrition, sustainable food, allergens, ultra-processed foods, and clean-label solutions. They will offer practical advice and actionable insights to ensure you’ll come away from the event in a position to seize new opportunities and implement innovative solutions. The panels will take place on both days, ensuring you don’t miss a moment of content.

Tuesday 21st May

9:00 – 9:45 Food trends 2030: the megatrends driving change and innovation across the food and drink sector

Join an expert-led panel discussion exploring the industry mega trends fuelling change, driving innovation, and reshaping the food and drink industry. Which ingredients and categories are trending? How are these impacting consumer attitudes, tastes, and buying decisions? And what will food and drink innovation look like in 2025 and beyond?

Speakers include:
Siân Yates Editorial Director at FoodBev Media
Hannah Cleland Analyst, GlobalData Plc
Jules Greene Qualitative Specialist, Good Sense Research
Gareth Hodgson Director, Mustard Research
Claire Powell Head of Fresh Food Insight, Tesco

10:15 – 11:15 The drive for positive nutrition and innovative ingredients to support health and wellbeing 

This dynamic panel session will connect leading academics and food industry experts to explore the latest nutritional science, consumer trends, and health-boosting ingredients shaping the sector. You will discover what’s new and next in nutrition and how food and drink brands can support consumers with their gut and whole-body health.

Speakers include:
Amy Glass Head of UK Diet and Health Policy, Food and Drink Federation
Louise Durrant Nutrition Communications Manager, Quorn Foods
Professor Weili Li Professor of Food Science and Technology, University of Chester
Lauren Woodley Group Nutrition Leader, Nomad Foods
Mikaela Linden-Ibraham Senior Researcher, New Nutrition

11:30 – 12:30 The emerging and future trends driving sustainable food and drink solutions

Consumers today care more than ever about the environmental credentials of food and drink products. This forward-looking panel discussion will spotlight the challenges and opportunities for food businesses looking to improve their ESG performance, explore strategies to deliver social value and look at how you can put sustainability front and centre in your NPD.

Speakers include:
Siân Yates Editorial Director at FoodBev Media
Jack Bobo Director, Food Systems Institute, University of Nottingham
Naomi Matthews Commercial Strategy & Food Innovation Director, Costa Coffee
Amir Mousavi Founder and Food Consultant at Good Food Studio

13:30 – 14:15 Spotlight on ultra-processed food: is the debate around UPF causing ultra-anxiety in consumers?

Join a panel of nutritional scientists, policy experts, and NPD specialists as they address the misconceptions, confusion, and challenges around the NOVA scale and the UPF category more widely. This panel will delve into the need for better definitions and discuss how you can effectively communicate processing to tackle consumer stigma.

Speakers include:
Siân Yates Editorial Director at FoodBev Media
Amy Glass Head of UK Diet and Health Policy, Food and Drink Federation
Natascha Gaut Director, Regulatory, Compliance & Investigations, DWF Law LLP
Natalie Rouse Nutritional Researcher and PhD Candidate, Swansea University
Lauren Woodley Group Nutrition Leader, Nomad Foods

14:30 – 15:30 Culinary insights panel: exploring the latest gastronomic trends and innovations

This exciting panel session will unite the leading tastemakers in food and drink to discuss culinary excellence and exploration. You will hear first-hand about trending flavours, techniques, and global cuisines from pioneering chefs and how to translate these into on-trend products that consumers will love.

Speakers include:
David Jones Co-Founder, Bingham & Jones
Juliane Caillouette Noble Managing Director, The Sustainable Restaurant Association
Lisa Harris Editor and Food Consultant, Harris and Hayes
Joseph Otway Owner, Founder and Executive Chef, Higher Ground

Wednesday 22 May

10:00 – 11:00 Food trends 2030: the megatrends driving change and innovation across the food and drink sector

Join an expert-led panel discussion exploring the industry mega trends fuelling change, driving innovation, and reshaping the food and drink industry. Which ingredients and categories are trending? How are these impacting consumer attitudes, tastes, and buying decisions? And what will food and drink innovation look like in 2025 and beyond?

Speakers include:
Siân Yates Editorial Director at FoodBev Media
Mike Faers Founder and Group CEO, F!S Group
Andy Hodgson Client Business Partner, CGA
Jason Winstanley Head of Insights and Research, Moy Park
Richard Neish Global Futures and Global Tastepoint at IFF

11:30 – 12:30 The emerging and future trends driving sustainable food and drink solutions

Consumers today care more than ever about the environmental credentials of food and drink products. This forward-looking panel discussion will spotlight the challenges and opportunities for food businesses looking to improve their ESG performance, explore strategies to deliver social value and look at how you can put sustainability front and centre in your NPD.

Speakers include:
Siân Yates Editorial Director at FoodBev Media
Mike Hughes Head of Research and Insight, FMCG Gurus
Andrew Wiseman Strategy Director, Mustard Research
Stu Henshall Director of Culinary Innovation, Quorn Foods

13:30 – 14:15 Allergens update – Getting ahead of the latest research, rules and regulations

The expert panel will explore the latest research, regulations, and innovations in the allergen-free space. Featuring key thought leaders, pioneering founders, and regulatory specialists, you will discover practical insights to help protect consumers and support those living with allergies at every step.

Speakers include:
Iain Ferris Lecturer Food Safety & Standards, University of Birmingham
Steve Hamon CEO, The Vegan Society
Ben Rayner Food Hypersensitivity Team Leader, Food Standards Agency
Simon Williams Chief Executive, Anaphylaxis UK
Kelvin Wood Certification Body Manager, Shield Safety
Rob Easton Head Of Environmental Health, Shield Safety Group

14:30 – 15:30 Culinary insights panel: Exploring the latest gastronomic trends and innovations

This exciting panel session will unite the leading tastemakers in food and drink to discuss culinary excellence and exploration. You will hear first-hand about trending flavours, techniques, and global cuisines from pioneering chefs and how to translate these into on-trend products that consumers will love.

Speakers include:
Paul Lackie Head of Food, Leathams Ltd
Stu Henshall Director of Culinary Innovation, Quorn Foods
Caroline Gamerio Chef and Founder (represented the North-West region on BBC’s Great British Menu in 2022 and 2023)
Jozef Youssef Chef and Founder, Kitchen Theory
Juliane Caillouette Noble Managing Director, The Sustainable Restaurant Association

15:45 – 16:30 The drive for positive nutrition and innovative ingredients to support health and wellbeing 

This dynamic panel session will connect leading academics and food industry experts to explore the latest nutritional science, consumer trends, and health-boosting ingredients shaping the sector. You will discover what’s new and next in nutrition and how food and drink brands can support consumers with their gut and whole-body health.

Speakers include:
Siân Yates Editorial Director at FoodBev Media
Karine Dussimon Industry Manager, Food and Nutrition, Euromonitor
Dr Laura Wilkinson Associate Professor, Faculty of Medicine, Health and Life Science, School of Psychology, Swansea University
Lauren Woodley Group Nutrition Leader, Nomad Foods
Nick Tofalos Director, CBD-One