Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, 13-14 May 2025
Food Matters Live returns to Manchester this May, offering NPD and innovation professionals an unmissable opportunity to explore cutting-edge ingredients, expert insights, and hands-on formulation solutions. With immersive ingredient showcases, trend-led discussions and direct access to industry leaders, the event tackles the key challenges currently faced by the NPD community.
Main stage programme: key industry insights
Featuring 50+ speakers and 40+ expert sessions, the main stage programme provides essential insights for brands, manufacturers, retailers, QSRs and foodservice professionals.
Dr. Rodrigo Ledesma-Amaro, Bezos Centre for Sustainable Protein, will open with a keynote on alternative proteins and sustainable food innovation, joined by an impressive line-up of experts including:
· Giles Yeo, University of Cambridge – unpacking the UPF debate: separating science from social media and its impact on product development.
· Rob Hobson, Leading Nutritionist – how gut health and functional nutrition are reshaping the industry.
Additional speakers include Matthew McAuliffe (The Compleat Food Group) on plant-based and hybrid proteins, Luke Heeney (Biotiful Gut Health) on fermentation and gut health, Elin Roberts (Better Nature) on the future of clean-label, high-protein foods, Dr. Emily Jevons (Cycling Team Picnic PostNL World Tour Men’s Team) on performance nutrition innovation, and Mark Schomberg (The Kraft Heinz Company) on how companies are adapting to shifting consumer trends and regulations.
As main stage partner, Döhler will explore ingredient innovation, advanced formulation and sustainability-driven product development. View the programme and full speaker line-up
Tastes of Better – an exclusive ingredient innovation experience Running parallel to the insights programme, Tastes of Better delivers hands-on showcases where NPD professionals can explore breakthrough ingredient solutions, gain tailored advice, and experience innovations firsthand.
Led by Azelis, Baking With Lesaffre in partnership with Biospringer by Lesaffre and IFF, this year’s themes include:
· Azelis – solutions for active aging, HFSS compliance, and ultra-processed alternatives.
· IFF – strategies & technologies for delivering better for you, more sustainable products without compromising on indulgence
· Baking With Lesaffre and Biospringer by Lesaffre– The Food for the Future showcase, exploring fermentation-driven food innovation.
This programme provides direct access to cutting-edge ingredients, industry technical experts and real-world application insights. More information
Expert-led table talks: solving NPD challenges
Azelis, Döhler, Limagrain Ingredients and others will host targeted NPD roundtables, providing direct access to industry experts and practical formulation strategies on key innovation challenges.
· Döhler – smart snacking for a happy gut (microbiome-supporting ingredients) and Innovative Taste Solutions (sugar, salt, and cocoa reduction).
· Limagrain Ingredients – fibre-rich formulations, functional clean-label innovation, and sustainable ingredient sourcing.
· Azelis and other industry leaders will explore key themes shaping the future of NPD.
These discussions offer actionable solutions to some of the biggest formulation challenges facing NPD, technical, and innovation teams today. View the programme
Who attends?
Food Matters Live brings together NPD, technical, and innovation professionals from across the food and drink industry, including manufacturers seeking breakthrough ingredient solutions, retailers and brands adapting to regulatory changes and evolving consumer trends, QSR and foodservice professionals driving next-generation product innovation, and R&D teams focused on functional nutrition, sustainability, and clean-label formulations.
Briony Mansell-Lewis, Managing Director of Food Matters Live, commented:
*"At a time when consumers are better informed and more conscious about their choices, the need for the food industry to deliver products that match health values, sustainability needs, but also budget has never been more important. We are delighted to be back in Manchester this May to connect our community of VIP food professionals with leading ingredient innovators and thought-leaders to navigate key trends, seek solutions to market challenges, and create new opportunities to innovate that can meet consumer needs."
To attend Attendance is by application only and VIP places are strictly reserved for NPD, technical and innovation professionals at F&B brands, manufacturers, retailers, QSRs and foodservice companies Apply for a place here https://bit.ly/4hbQHbi Visit the website here https://bit.ly/3Ew2e74 View the programme here https://bit.ly/4hkGNEN NPD Discovery Table Talks programme here https://foodmatterslive.com/manchester/NPD-table-talks/
For media and registration enquiries please contact Louise Bridges: louise.bridges@foodmatterslive.com