AGENDA

Join this expert-led, peer-to-peer deep-dive session to discuss the data underpinning and hear from those in the know. Take back to your business an understanding of what it takes to succeed and lessons learned from those who have been there, done that.

Delegates must pre-register interest prior to the day of the event.

HOSTED BY: GlobalData

• Analysing the latest data on category performance
• Identifying key trends and developments
• Outlook for the future
  

• Future-Proofing Trends: Identifying the key shifts shaping the next era of non-alcoholic beverages
• The New Hydration: Decoding the evolving needs and lifestyle demands of the modern consumer
• Category Winners: Pinpointing which beverage segments are dominating market share and consumer preference
  

• Rising demand for functional, low-sugar, and hydration-focused drinks
• Realigning portfolios to capture health-conscious GLP-1 consumers
• Anticipating reduced calorie intake and smaller portion sizes
  

• How are consumers replacing traditional meals with liquid snacks or hybrid drinks?
• Designing drinks that act as problem solvers for the consumer’s daily schedule
• Focussing on products that fit into specific tasks - mid-afternoon focus coffee or pre-sleep wind-down functional tea
  

• Building bold visual identities that cut through the noise of congested beverage aisles
• Extending the product story beyond the label into immersive, 360-degree consumer experiences
• Combining high-level strategy with creative flair to ensure brands remain relevant as trends evolve

Senior representative, Pearlfisher 

• Functional juice innovations in 2026 - enhancing immune support through added probiotics and prebiotic fibres
• Delivering healthier options - sugar reduction paired with exotic, botanical-infused flavour profiles
• Shifting toward sustainable production methods
  

• Creating sophisticated profiles for non-alcoholic beverages
• Crafting bespoke botanical and fruit extracts that define a brand’s unique sensory identity
• Ensuring shelf stability: delivering high-performance and consistent flavours systems that maintain their profile

Senior representative, McCormick

• Understanding why malt is a versatile ingredient
• Using malt-based bases and concentrates to create new beverages
• Introducing nutritious malt syrups that serve as a natural source of sugars, acidity, and colour for sports and health drinks

Senior representative, Soufflet Malt

• Turn complex sensory data into simple, intuitive taste characters that shoppers understand
• Match consumers to their perfect drink in seconds with quick digital taste profiles
• Use 2.5 million global taste profiles to spot market gaps and de-risk new product launches

Senior representative, Vinhood

• Out-pacing the crowd with bold flavors and first-to-market functionality
• Identifying areas that large competitors are too slow to fill
• Winning the category by proving our product moves faster than legacy brands
  

• Sugar Tax Reform: Managing the shift as the Soft Drinks Industry Levy expands thresholds and includes milk-based alternatives by 2028
• DRS Readiness: Aligning operations for the October 2027 Deposit Return Scheme launch
• Digital Standards: Implementing new 2D barcode and data matrix requirements critical for container identification and circularity tracking
  

• Using AI to identify occasions driving consumer preference and loyalty
• Exploring how major brands use AI and big data to predict flavour trends
• Accelerating NPD timelines from years to months

Senior representative, Ai Palette

• Moving beyond general wellness to age-defying and cellular-health ingredients
• Prioritizing emotional health through adaptogens and nootropic blends
• Tailoring products to specific biological needs - gut biomes and hormone health
  

• Create bespoke glass shapes with low-cost tooling to own the shelf
• Boost sustainability credentials with high-recycled content and 100% recyclable glass
• Scale fast with flexible production runs tailored for craft and premium non-alcoholic brands

Senior representative, Beatson Clark

• What defines trailblazing innovation in the beverage sector today? 
• Which categories are leading the way in functional beverage development?
• How can we monitor flavour and functionality trends to drive a successful NPD strategy?
• Understand the drinking occasion: What does the consumer really want from the drinking experience?
  

• Scale your sustainability with functional ingredients that capture CO2 during production
• Deliver high-quality, plant-based nutrition using advanced, light-powered cultivation technology
• Enhance your drinks with high-performance ingredients that require zero chemical additives

Senior representative, Arborea

• Navigating, developing, and launching new infused products
• Navigate a changing regulatory environment through competitor testing and product reformulation
• Ensuring product’s legal compliance through in-house testing

Senior representative, Sourcetech

• Launching functional drinks to capture specific moods and lifestyle moments beyond extreme sports 
• Balancing iconic flavour profiles with low-calorie, vitamin-fortified options for health-conscious consumers
• Integrating cognitive-support ingredients to evolve from a physical stimulant to a mental performance partner