Introducing the Fi Webinar Series
The Fi Webinar Series 2022 covers 5 booming F&B market segments, offering attendees the opportunity to get up to speed on marketing strategies, sourcing of ingredients and product applications in the course of a single themed Deep Dive Day.
A Deep Dive Day in Numbers
Deep Dive Days Calendar
Fi Webinar Series Overview
Protein Deep Dive Day - 8 March 2022
Insights into marketing strategies, sourcing of ingredients and product applications.
Protein has become a purchase driver for many consumers, from mainstream shoppers seeking products for satiety and weight loss, post-workout recovery, or to help prevent the age-related muscle loss known as sarcopenia, to sports people looking for protein-boosted products to build muscles and improve performance.
Due to this high level of interest, protein is increasingly highlighted on-pack for a wide variety of foods, across many categories from breakfast cereals and dairy products, to baked goods and snacks. Key questions about these products remain to be addressed, however. What is the quality of the proteins used and how appealing are they from a sensory perspective? The quality of a protein is determined by assessing its essential amino acid composition, digestibility, and the bioavailability of amino acids. Proteins from dairy, soy and wheat currently are the most widely used proteins in the food industry, but they all are among the most common allergens, and each has different functionalities. Soy protein is the most common plant-based option, but some consumers – especially in Europe – are worried about its links with deforestation. Product developers must consider the concerns of their target market, as well as the protein source and application, when considering which protein ingredients to use.
Join us for the Protein Deep Dive Day to hear from leading industry experts about the latest consumer insights, product categories best suited for protein claims, and ingredient insights for best product formulation. The programme will include expert sessions, live discussions and Q&A covering marketing strategies and claims, sourcing of ingredients and applications. Attendees will also receive the Fi Global Insights Protein Report 2022.
Dairy & Dairy Alternatives Deep Dive Day - 5 April 2022
Insights into marketing strategies, sourcing of ingredients and product applications.
While the dairy alternative market gains in popularity, its share of the market remains small in comparison to conventional dairy, at about 2.5% of the European market, according to analysis from ING – although it expects this to increase to 4.1% by 2025. However, despite the dairy sector’s dominance, major players in the industry take the rise of plant-based dairy alternatives seriously, with many acquisitions happening in the space proving that there is expected growth within both categories. Hence, while companies like Danone buy into the plant-based space by purchasing known brands like Alpro, key questions remain: Which marketing strategies and product innovations will drive growth in both categories and how will these categories influence one another? And, considering the growing number of flexitarians, what new products do dairy producers have to offer these consumers, and how can the market penetration of plant-based products be accelerated?
One thing is certain, there is a lot of innovation happening in both the dairy and dairy alternative categories. Marketing strategies need to be updated to meet new consumer needs, new ingredients are being launched at a fast pace, and there is a drive towards more sustainable processing technologies. Dairy alternative products like cheese for example, which have been hard to replicate in terms of taste and texture, could be revolutionised by precision fermentation and other processes.
Join us for the Dairy and Dairy Alternatives Deep Dive Day to hear from leading industry experts about the latest consumer insights, product updates and innovations happening in this space. The programme will include expert sessions, live discussions and Q&A covering marketing strategies and claims, sourcing of ingredients and applications. Attendees will receive the Fi Global Insights Dairy and Dairy Alternatives Report 2022.
Snacks & Bakery Deep Dive Day - 24 May 2022
Insights into marketing strategies, sourcing of ingredients and product applications.
Bakery and snack products are an essential part of everyday diets across the globe, and as such they are highly impacted by the latest F&B trends, especially since people are looking for nutritious and quick on-the-go treats. As health became the main focus of eating habits, priority was initially given to avoiding dietary evils and monitoring portion control due to the increasing number of people across the globe classified as overweight or obese. However, in recent years, consumers have adopted a broader concept of what constitutes a healthy diet. Some of the current major trends in healthier baked goods and snacks include:
- Plant-based products and ingredients (like vegetables, whole grains and legumes, for example).
- Healthier fats and oils. • Functional products such as those with added fibre or protein, or ingredients intended to improve digestive health, brain health, mood, etc.
- Smaller portion sizes – a trend that has been given an unexpected boost from the COVID crisis, as individual portions have gained favour due to hygiene concerns.
In addition to the health aspect, the category is also being transformed by growing consumer interest in a product’s content. Consumers want reassurance that ingredients used are real and authentic and are free from chemicals and artificial ingredients that are harmful to their health. They look for Clean Label products with natural ingredients. They also increasingly care about the environmental impact of certain ingredients such as palm oil.
Join us for the Snacks and Bakery Deep Dive Day to hear from leading industry experts about the latest consumer insights, product updates and innovations happening in this space. The programme will include expert sessions, live discussions and Q&A covering marketing strategies and claims, sourcing of ingredients and applications. Attendees will receive the Fi Global Insights Snacks and Bakery Report 2022.
Plant-based Deep Dive Day - 14 June 2022
Insights into marketing strategies, sourcing of ingredients and product applications.
Plant-based products have exploded in popularity in recent years. In the US, sales of plant-based food and drink are outpacing overall food growth fivefold and SPINS retail data from March 2020 shows that grocery sales of plant-based foods that directly replace animal products have grown 29% in the past two years to reach $5 billion. From 2018 to 2020, European plant-based sales grew 49%, according to a report published by the EU-funded Smart Protein. The report found that categories like alternatives to cheese and fish had grown at triple-digit rates, while in Germany, sales of plant-based alternatives to fish grew 623% over the period. Sales are being driven by concerns for environmental sustainability and climate change – both long-term global challenges – and by the fact that younger consumers put greater importance on making purchasing decisions informed by environmental concerns than older generations.
Despite its current ‘on-trend’ status, the plant-based sector must overcome some significant hurdles before it becomes truly mainstream. It must adapt to consumers’ different lifestyles and the need for different dining occasions. A wider variety of product options, better sensory appeal and ‘cleaner’ ingredient lists are key for this market to grow. Despite these hurdles, there are plenty of opportunities for new product applications and the amount of new product launches is extraordinary.
Join us for the Plant-based Deep Dive Day to hear from leading industry experts about which products are trending, which on-pack claims resonate most with consumers, and how to ensure repeat purchase as well as growing consumers’ interest in your brand. The programme will include expert sessions, live discussions and Q&A covering marketing strategies, sourcing of ingredients and applications. Attendees will also receive the Fi Global Insights Plant-based Report 2022.
Beverages Deep Dive Day - 20 September 2022
Insights into marketing strategies, sourcing of ingredients and product applications.
The beverage isle is being transformed by the plant-based, heath & wellbeing and sustainability trends. According to data from Foodtrending, milk alternatives, nutritional beverages (protein shakes, energy drinks, functional beverages and meal replacements), and ready-to-drink tea and coffee are among the star performers when it comes to sales growth within the category. Consumers are looking for healthier options for their soft drinks, energy drinks, as well as alternatives to alcoholic beverages, preferably something with unexpected flavour twists. Another long-term focus within the category is sugar reduction. Carbonated soft drinks that have a reduced sugar content tend to drive higher sales within Europe, according to Mintel. And according to data from the European Soft Drinks Association, UNESDA, beverage producers have cut added sugars in soft drinks by an average of 14.6% from 2015 to 2019, outpacing an EU target for a 10% reduction by 2020.
Innovative formats are also gaining importance as many consumers reach for powder and tablets that they can add to their water bottle on-the-go or to customize at home. Within hot drinks, tea brands are removing plastic from tea bags and investing in more sustainable materials.
Ingredients such as botanicals are increasingly used in beverages for their health benefits, which include supporting the immune system but also tackling stress and anxiety. The percentage of new product launches containing floral ingredients grew from 7% in 2015 to 14% in 2020, while those with herbal and spice ingredients grew from 8% to 10% over the same period, according to Mintel. Botanicals and adaptogenic blends, CBD oil and ayurvedic ingredients are emerging as an important area for premium teas. However, soft drinks are also increasingly looking to delivering functional benefits alongside working on more natural ingredient lists and sugar reduction.
Join us for the Beverages Deep Dive Day to hear from leading industry experts about which products are trending, which on-pack claims and health benefits resonate most with consumers, and other issues being tackled by the beverages category. The programme will include expert sessions, live discussions and Q&A covering marketing strategies, ingredient innovations and applications. Attendees will also receive the Fi Global Insights Beverages Report 2022.
