From the future of soft drinks to the science of sugar reduction – some of the most hotly contested issues affecting the food and drink industry will be discussed at this year’s Food Matters Live.

It’s the ingredient that adds sweetness, texture and taste to food and drink – but it is also taking the blame for the rise in obesity and forcing industry to reformulate its products.
Sugar and its impact on society is set to be a central theme at this year’s Food Matters Live, which brings together more than 400 speakers, from government ministers, food scientists and business leaders, to healthcare professionals, nutritionists and chefs to debate this and many other complex issues.
Business leaders from Britvic, Brakes, Mars, Refresco Gerber, Tesco, Pret A Manger and Marks & Spencer will discuss the role their companies are playing to enable healthy diets, together with ministers from the Department of Health and DEFRA, the shadow health minister and other professionals, such as sugar and carbohydrate expert Professor Julian Cooper and behavioural economist Tim Harford.
Meanwhile, the Food Matters Live seminar programme offers visitors case-study rich sessions covering a broad range of issues, including the technical challenges behind sugar reduction, smart ingredients for innovative ‘better for you’ food and drink, a look at how the sugar tax will affect other categories and the future of sustainable proteins and diets.
In packaging and marketing seminar streams, visitors will learn about the psychology of multi-sensory packaging design, how to lure millennials through brand appeal, the growth of ‘moment marketing’, and how neuro-marketing and behavioural science can advance understanding of consumer food choices.
To put all these opinions into perspective is the Food Matters Live exhibition, featuring over 600 organisations - from global multinational companies such as Nestle Cereals, Innocent Drinks and Yakult, to young and emerging start-ups in this year’s Enterprise Zone.
A sneak preview of the products that will be on display can be found in the new online directory at
http://www.foodmatterslive.com/visiting/product-and-ingredient-directories/product-directory.
Food Matters Live is free to attend, including entry to the conference, seminars and all visitor attractions.
Simply register at www.foodmatterslive.com