Check out the NPD-themed panels recorded live at IFE Manufacturing, part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week 2025, and gain valuable insights from industry leaders, including a session by consultancy leaders Elephants Can’t Jump on how to use branding to supercharge your innovation.

Using Branding to Supercharge your Innovation 

In today’s competitive landscape, innovation alone wasn’t enough—branding played a crucial role in making new ideas stand out and connect with consumers. This session explored how companies across the food and drink industry used branding to power successful innovations, sharing actionable case studies that highlighted the importance of storytelling, emotional engagement, and understanding consumer needs.

Keynotes:

  • Bob Bayman, Managing Director - Elephants Can't Jump
  • Danielle Horsley, Senior Brand Builder - Elephants Can't Jump

Reformulation & the Role of Food Labels in Consumer Health and Industry Innovation 

As the food industry evolved to meet growing consumer demands for healthier, sustainable, and transparent products, reformulation strategies played a crucial role. This session explored the relationship between product reformulation and food labelling, examining how changes in ingredients, nutritional content, and manufacturing processes were communicated to consumers. Experts discussed key regulatory requirements, the impact of nutritional claims, and the importance of clear, accurate labelling in fostering trust and driving purchasing decisions. Attendees gained insights into the latest trends in reformulation, how labels reflected these changes, and the challenges and opportunities the industry faced in aligning with consumer preferences and health goals.

Moderator:

  • Iveta Kovacova, Research Director - Ecovia Intelligence

Speakers:

  • Amy Glass, Head of Diet & Health - FDF
  • Dr. Craig Leadley, Chief Executive - Institute of Food Science and Technology (IFST)
  • Mirrin Lewis, Deputy Sales Manager - The Vegan Society
  • Richard Hyde, Professor of Law, Regulation & Governance - University of Nottingham

The Convenience & Impulse Opportunity 

The UK’s 35,000 convenience stores each sold an average of 4,500 different products per year. Cutting through the noise to make a brand one retailers might choose to stock was challenging—but incredibly valuable when done right. This session examined the barriers, the stories that needed to be told, the role of pricing, and the potential opportunity.

Attendees gained insight from the Association of Convenience Stores, store operators, and a leading retail consultant on how to successfully break onto these shelves.

Panelists:

  • Aman Uppal, Franchise Partner - One Stop Mount Nod
  • Fiona Malone, Director - Tenby Stores & Post Office
  • James Lowman, Chief Executive - Association of Convenience Stores

Keynote:

  • Stefan Appleby, Head of Retail Engagement - Newtrade Media