The brand-new UK event for the food development industry, The Ingredients Show, has announced the first wave of concepts that will be explored during the 3-day exhibition in April.
The trend-led agenda of seminars, panel discussions and masterclasses will ensure visitors walk away with inspiration for the next generation of innovative and exciting products.
Curated by industry experts, the Live Theatre programme will address the big issues in food development – from health and nutrition to food function and performance.
Keeping it clean
With clean labels becoming less of a trend and more of a rule of thumb, and 73% of consumers saying they’d pay more for products with ingredients they trust, The Ingredients Show 2018 will shine a light on the future of the movement and the challenges it faces.
A well-versed panel will debate a range of pertinent questions, such as whether consumers will accept flavours, sweeteners and proteins fermented from micro-organisms and are natural colours and flavours clean?
Further sessions will explore what a clean label means for consumers and take a deeper look at how the trend is evolving.
With pressures on the food industry to cut sugar, salt and fat in products whilst maintaining a clean label profile, experts will examine how manufacturers can meet these, arguably contradictory, expectations of reformulating.
The power of protein
A glance at a supermarket shelf shows that high protein products are no longer reserved for athletes and body builders – the average health-conscious consumer is incorporating the macronutrient into their diet and expects products to be packaged in a convenient and appealing way.
Ingredients specialists will drill down into how this food group has entered the mainstream and continues to develop with sessions in the Live Theatre expected to cover such topics as edible insects – an increasingly popular meal choice thanks to their similar nutritional make-up to meat and fish – lab grown meats, ancient grains and plant-based options.
Food technology of the future
Production processes and the supply chain will also feature on the jam-packed educational agenda.
Visitors to The Ingredients Show will hear from the industry’s top innovators, who will explore how technological developments such as personalised nutrition and digital advances including blockchain, e-commerce and platforms for direct ingredients buying are revolutionising the supply chain and maximising efficiency.
As part of this, Natural Machines, the company behind 3D food printer Foodini, will host a daily masterclass. The session will see Michelin-star ranked chefs put together a series of dishes, which will then be printed on the trailblazing kitchen appliance live at the show.
Dan Dixon, Sales Director at The Ingredients Show, commented: “It’s a really exciting time for the UK ingredients market and this is reflected in the wealth of topics we are exploring as part of our first ever The Ingredients Show educational programme."
"We’re very much looking forward to announcing the speakers, panellists and thought leaders who will share their insights over the three days. Watch this space!”
