Food Manufacturing Shows Commitment to Health and Nutrition

13 Nov 2014 --- Leading brands from across the food and drink sector will be participating in Food Matters Live, the UK’s first cross-sector event dedicated to food, health and nutrition. Global companies including Nestlé, Unilever Foundary, The Coca-Cola Company and Kellogg Group will be revealing their latest innovations.

“We are delighted that so many leading names from across the food and drink sector have chosen to take part in Food Matters Live,” said Briony Mansell-Lewis, Director of Food Matters Live. “As well as an unprecedented number of manufacturers exhibiting at the event, many are also speaking throughout the programme.”

Taking place on 18-20 November at London’s ExCeL, Food Matters Live will bring together thousands of visitors from across the food and drink industry, retailers, food service providers, nutrition and health professionals and government. It aims to provide a unique cross-industry platform to find solutions to one of the most important challenges of our time – the relationship between food, health and nutrition.

As well as an unrivalled free-to-attend conference and seminar programme, over 200 organisations will be taking part in the Food Matters Live exhibition. Manufacturers will also be presenting in a series of special attractions running throughout the event.

The Drink Well and Evidence Base attraction brings together manufacturers of food, drinks and ingredients in a dedicated zone, with short talks and tastings from companies such as Kellogg‘s, Arla Foods, Iglo Group, Tropicana and The Coca-Cola Company, revealing the science and strategy behind product reformulation.

Fiona Kendrick, Chairman and CEO Nestlé UK & Ireland,highlights the importance of product reformulation, “At Nestlé, we aim to enhance lives with good food and beverages that not only taste delicious, but are also healthy and nutritious.

"We understand that consumers are looking for healthier choices that do not compromise on taste and so, through extensive research and development, we constantly review our product range to improve taste while enhancing nutritional value. We look forward to sharing our expertise and innovation at Food Matters Live, engaging positively with partners across the food, health and nutrition sectors.”

Mondelez International will explore the science behind its belVita breakfast biscuits at Drink Well and Evidence Base, “At Mondelez International we are committed to creating delicious foods and drinks that make life easier and tastier for our consumers. 

"We know one in three people in the UK are regularly skipping breakfast and despite it being widely recognised as an important meal of the day, breakfast is becoming less of a priority as people struggle to balance the demands of busy lifestyles,” commented Sandra Ferreira, Senior Brand Manager, belVita Breakfast.  

“In 2010, belVita Breakfast biscuits launched in the UK to answer this consumer need and adhere to a demanding nutrition charter to offer a tasty and convenient breakfast option. We are thrilled to have the opportunity to be involved in the first Food Matters Live and look forward to discussing our science and nutrition amongst industry peers,” continued Ms Ferreira. 

A dedicated Research Pavilion, sponsored by Tesco Food Academy, will host many of the food sector’s leading research organisations, including the Institute of Food Research, the Functional Food Centre, the Food Environment Research Agency, the National Centre for Food Manufacturing, the Universities of Nottingham and Leeds, and TNO.

The Enterprise Zone, sponsored by the Unilever Foundry, will feature some of the sector’s most innovative new start-ups showcasing new healthy food and drink concepts and services. Exhibits will include novel 3D printing technology.

Meanwhile, Alternative Edibles, sponsored by Wellcome Trust, will examine how a new approach to food sources and management could help to feed a fast-growing world population, exploring foods such as insects, sea vegetables and lab-grown protein with a programme of cookery demonstrations and tastings.

Alongside the leading brands, major ingredients suppliers such as BASF, Beneo, Chr. Hansen and GNT International, and leaders in free-from such as Amy’s Kitchen, Free’ist, a2 Milk, LoSalt and Rebel Kitchen will be participating. 

“As Britain’s biggest baker, here at Warburtons we believe that everyone should be able to enjoy beautifully baked bread. At our dedicated gluten free bakery in Newburn our team of expert gluten free bakers combine generations of skill and expertise to produce award-winning gluten free ranges for the prescription, retail and foodservice channels,” said Sarah Cook, Marketing Manager, Free From, Warburtons. 

“We're proud to be part of the launch of Food Matters Live, which will enable like-minded organisations across food, health and nutrition to come together to discuss these crucial issues, learn from each other and share best practice.”

Food Matters Live – at a glance

· Exhibition with over 200 leading organisations, from global corporations to some of the sector’s most exciting new ventures, alongside food science pioneers and retailing experts. Brands represented include Barry Callebaut, Belvita, The Coca-Cola Company, Dohler, Kellogg Group, Nestlé, a2 Milk, Tropicana, Unilever, Arla Foods, Birds Eye, Nescafe, Fonterra, Dow, Rebel Kitchen

· Three-day conference programme, featuring policy makers, industry leaders, food scientists, dieticians, nutrition experts, commentators and behavioural psychologists discussing a range of compelling topics, from the nutritional state of the nation to advances in nutrigenomics. Renowned scientists, industry experts and well-known food journalists, authors and campaigners will also take part in the Food Matters Live forum in the exhibition hall, providing a stimulating take on some of the food sector’s most pressing issues, from future foods and the important of provenance, to the psychology of choice and the science of taste, throughout the event.

· Over 80 seminar sessions, with more than 300 expert speakers offering practical advice on topics from nutrition for health and wellbeing and strategies to reduce salt, sugar and fat consumption, to strategies for business growth and the latest developments in food science and technology

· Attractions on the exhibition floor will bring the learning to life with demonstrations, tastings and talks on topics ranging from reformulation and unconventional ingredients to the secrets of marketing healthy choices.

· Food Matters Live is supported by the most influential bodies across government, the food and drink industry, academia and research and health and nutrition, including the Food and Drink Federation, Department of Health, Institute of Food Science and Technology, British Hospitality Association, British Dietetic Association, Campden BRI and Leatherhead Food Research.

Full details of exhibitors and attractions and the conference and seminar schedule are available at www.foodmatterslive.com.