Recipe for success – Food Ingredients Europe

Today's food and beverage professionals are demanding greater access to innovative reformulation solutions; new, tastier and better-quality ingredients; and greater industry thought leadership. There are constantly changing and more complex consumer trends, a greater need for safer and healthier food and beverages, and higher demands to use purely natural ingredients in today's marketplace.

For more than 25 years, Food ingredients Europe (FiE) and Natural ingredients (Ni) has provided the world with the leading food and beverage ingredients-sourcing platform. This year, it returns to France, the third-largest food market in Europe, taking place 1-3 December in Paris Nord Villepinte.

The show will be 10% larger than the previous edition, and will showcase thousands of ingredients, innovations and solutions in food and natural ingredients, packaging and processing.

More than 25% of all annual ingredient-procurement budgets for food and beverage manufactures are influenced by a visit to FiE and Ni, making it one of the most influential and important three-day events for the industry. The show attracts a global audience of over 26,000 attendees and, as it only occurs once every two years, it simply can't be missed.

FiE is about bringing in new business and inspiration while providing innovative ideas and suppliers to the market, and adapting the latest trends in the global food and beverage industry. Whether visitors seek to improve existing products or systems, get educated on market and industry trends, or radically innovate through new technologies and new business processes, FiE is the place to be.

Show highlights

Building on the success of the last edition of FiE and Ni, the 2015 show promises more innovation, matchmaking and learning opportunities. With over 200 new exhibitors, more than 85 educational opportunities, and a brand new Expo FoodTec pavilion that will showcase exhibitors with solutions in processing, packaging, equipment and associated services, there are so many features on site to help visitors make the most of their trip.

Taking place at Paris Nord Villepinte, France, the exhibition will showcase the latest product developments and innovations from over 1,400 leading global food and beverage ingredients suppliers and solution providers, including Cargill, DSM, Beneo, Roquette, Rousselot, Nexira, JK Sucralose, GNT Group, Glanbia Nutritionals, Omya, Naturex, Hydrosol and Synthite ADM, Ingredion, Gelita, DMV, Brenntag and many more.

A four-day, co-located conference will take place on site during the show. The multifaceted and dynamic programme will help visitors and their peers from leading food and beverage companies identify the top trends and opportunities in the global food ingredients market.

More than 100 leading experts from companies such as Nestlé, FrieslandCampina, Ingredion, Gelita, Innova, FoodDrink Europe, Mintel, Ketchum, Britvic and many more will ensure visitors get the latest insights in 20 different modules discussing natural colour and colouring food, dairy innovation, category innovation, functional food, health and wellness trends, and the global ingredients industry.

This year's Fi Europe introduces a brand new feature, the Women's Networking Breakfast. Taking place on the morning of day two, this is a paid networking opportunity for women from the industry to come together to discuss, share and debate their ideas. Discussions will be coordinated by Lu Ann Williams, director of innovation at Innova Market Insights, and will also feature Laurette Rondenet-Smith, president and CEO of Edlong Dairy Technologies; and Dinnie Jordan, managing director and founder of Kudos Blends, among others.

The New Product Zone is one of the most popular areas of the show and is now a trendsetting spot for the food industry. Produced in association with Innova Market Insights, the New Product Zone will showcase over 30 new products and packaging displays, highlighting recent launches from exhibitors at the forefront of innovation in the industry. This feature gives new products a proper introduction to the market and to industry professionals, and is a very popular area for visitors and press.

The Global Seminar Theatre will host free 25-minute seminar sessions. Here, key exhibitors will inform visitors about their latest innovations, developments and food trends by presenting new product applications, technologies and practical insights in the theatre. There will be a variety of educational seminars presented over the three days. In the Industry Insight Theatre, free 30-minute sessions will be presented by leading associations and research companies such as Euromonitor International, Nutrimarketing, Leatherhead and more, informing and educating the audience about the latest trends and innovations impacting the food and beverage industry in areas such as health and wellness, and gluten-free.

Innova Market Insights is returning with its Ingredients in Action feature - an ingredients application tasting bar. Visitors to Innova's stand on the show floor can use all five senses to explore how the latest ingredients are being applied to finished food products while learning about current trends driving new product development.

Awards and tours

Food and beverage ingredients companies that have excelled in their sector, contributed to the ingredients world as a whole and demonstrated innovation in certain areas will be recognised in an awards ceremony at FiE 2015. A showcase area will display the innovative ingredients that are leading the way in the industry.

Meanwhile, industry expert NutriMarketing has produced and will conduct focused, guided tours around the show floor. Featuring six topical areas including vegetable supremacy, and innovation in dairy and bakery, the Innovation Tours will highlight to visitors how key suppliers are responding to market trends through innovation.

Produced in conjunction with Leatherhead Food Research, the Discovery Tours will offer visitors the opportunity to follow a trend-specific tour around the show floor at their own speed, using a guided-trail show map. With six focused topics including protein innovation and natural colours, visitors can learn about key trends in their area while finding the perfect exhibitors to provide the solutions they need.

Additionally, the free official FiE mobile app will allow visitors to navigate the show floor, access the exhibitor list, store their agenda, mark seminars they want to attend, make appointments and network with industry peers at the show, giving attendees all the information they need at their fingertips.

No matter where you are located or in what sector you operate, FiE and Ni is the must-attend event for the global food and beverage ingredients industry. It is a unique platform to meet existing and potential suppliers, learn about the latest trends and developments, acquire priceless industry knowledge and explore endless networking opportunities.

You can pre-register online at www.fi-europe.eu/preview to save €130 over on-site fees. There are also four different visitor and conference packages to choose from. Visit the website for regular updates or follow @Fi_Global on Twitter or Fi Global on Facebook, and use the show hashtag, #FiEurope.