Food Matters Live 2015 – A Review

This year, Food Matters Live 2015 was a real humdinger of a food show. Admittedly, it’s hard to say it has matured given it is only in its second year but there is a feeling that it knows where it is in terms of the content, positioning and marketing. Some might say it is everything to all men and women which dilutes the effort but it does successfully raise awareness of how many functions are cross-fertilizing and interlinked in the food business.

What makes it so attractive in the first place ? Firstly, it is free which makes it highly attractive to all. Secondly, being in London at ExCel attracts international visitors and makes it relatively straightforward to travel to. Thirdly, it attracts a variety of exhibitors from universities and colleges hoping to attract students and new business in equal measure, the ingredient suppliers, the entrepreneurs such as ourselves (of course), the trade bodies and indeed anyone involved in the food and drink industry.

The presentations and talks are many and varied. There was a great mix last year and it continued this. Admittedly, there is probably very little that hasn’t been covered already but it is always useful to see the trends. What has altered in the last year or so? What is the new research for example ?  I’m always attracted to nutrition simply because general health is nowadays focussed on obesity, weight, diabetes and all those conditions which afflict us in later life but are influenced by what we eat.

My first thought compared to last year is the general increase in the number of small suppliers and enterprises making a variety of on-trend foods. It suggests a new mood and confidence and not just in London but from around the country including both Wales and Scotland in product development and a willingness to try and sell new foods. There were too many ‘players’ to cover off in three days and that is testament to the increased number of suppliers of new and fascinating product offerings.

The changes that were noticeable:-

• Coconut waters are still there but fewer in number. There were new ways to offer the product as in the whole green coconut or in combination with a few different ingredients not normally associated with fruit.
• Many more high pressure processed drinks illustrating how this processing technology has started to move into more main stream production. It’s probably because the costs have dropped and there is a wider availability of equipment. It still needs to become a continuous processing operation but it is attracting the attention of all those manufacturers who want to extend the shelf-life of freshly pressed juices as long as feasibly possible.
• The paleo diet is represented by snack bars and novel cereal makers and appears to have attracted the attention to those looking for a new way to eat basically.
• Colostrum – that is an unusual dairy product which has much to offer in terms of protein.
• Sport products were under-represented. Just one supplier dwelling on this market whilst others had foods which crossed over into the segment.
• Gluten-free continues to develop – plenty of cereals, bars, drinks etc. either stating quite clearly they did not use cereals but used legumes like pea or bean.
• Very few new flavours on offer here which was not the case at the IFE this Summer. Some sauces offering variation on chilli but East Asian flavours generally missing.

It is though a very exciting show and its cross-over nature makes it possible to dwell on a great variety of issues that are current in the news. It comes back again, probably double the size next year and deserves to grab our attention. Looking forward to it.