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Bringing you a compilation of the biggest trends facing the industry from some of the most knowledgeable industry leaders, recorded live at IFE Manufacturing, part of Food, Drink & Hospitality Week 2026.
Closing the loop and turning food waste into value with the power of AI
This session explored how AI and technology were helping tackle food waste across the supply chain by improving transparency, reducing loss, and unlocking value through upcycling and redistribution. Panellists examined how inefficiencies could be identified and operations optimised, while sharing practical examples of how surplus and waste were being transformed into profitable, sustainable products to support more circular and resilient food systems.
Moderator:
- Andy Richardson MBE, Chairman of Frive and Partner of European Food & Farming Partnership - European Food and Farming Partnerships
Speakers:
- Alex Smith, CEO - FuturePlus
- Dave Elliman, Chief of Software Engineering - Zühlke
- Dini McGrath, Co-Founder - Zest
Fueling growth and sustainability through food safety
This session explored how FSSC 22000, the world’s leading GFSI-recognised food safety management system, could support international growth. Necat Kirkil shared practical insights into how FSSC schemes helped businesses meet strict buyer requirements while improving food safety, quality, and social sustainability. The discussion focused on building trust with global partners and using certification as a roadmap for entering high-value export markets and strengthening operational performance.
Presenter:
- Necat Kirkil, Regional Market Representative - Foundation FSSC
Letting go to grow: How brands are rethinking supply chains
As global supply chains continued to evolve, this session explored how brands were rethinking innovation and growth by focusing on core strengths while partnering with specialists across packaging, product development, co-packing, co-manufacturing, and distribution. Panellists shared how these collaborative models were driving agility, scalability, and innovation in the global food market.
Moderator:
- Ton Knipscheer, Executive Director - EUROPEAN CO-PACKERS ASSOCIATION (ECPA)
Speakers:
- Annie Berni, Founder - SauceSi
- Matt Boyle, Sales Director Food Packaging - Metsä Board
- Paul Jenkins, Managing Director - ThePackHub
Smart factories, smarter people: The skills powering the future of food
The food production landscape evolved rapidly in this session, which explored how automation, AI, and digital factories were reshaping not only efficiency but also the workforce behind food production. Panellists examined the skills needed in a more automated environment, the changing nature of entry-level and junior roles, and the importance of training, retraining, and human oversight, while sharing practical examples and insights into the future of food production.
Moderator:
- Melissa Bradshaw, Group Editor - FoodBev Media
Speakers:
- Andrew Martin, Head of Food, Drink and Agri-tech - Advanced Manufacturing Research Centre
- Richard Werran, Global Director Retail, Consumer & Food - BSI
- Veronica Amestoy, Solution Architect Leader - Databricks
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