Inaugural Food Vision heralded as success by global food industry – organisers commit to return in 2014

FoodNavigator editor Caroline Scott-Thomas (centre) discussing food (and dinner) innovation at Food Vision in Cannes. Planning is already underway for Food Vision 2014. Pictures: Rob Lawson

Following a highly successful inaugural summit last week, organisers William Reed Business Media have confirmed that Food Vision will become an annual event, returning to Cannes, France, in March 2014.

Delegates and commercial partners alike described the first Food Vision summit as a defining event for the global food industry and an exceptional thought leadership forum, driven by a FoodNavigator and NutraIngredients-built programme.

More than 130 senior level delegates from 30 countries attended the summit between 20 and 22 March as guests of William Reed Business Media (WRBM), and Food Vision partners, DSM Nutritional Products, DuPont, Barry Callebaut and Cosucra.

“Food Vision promised to be a ‘meeting of minds’ for the global food industry and it more than delivered on that promise, with thought provoking content and a dialogue with senior industry leaders," said Sarah Jane Jumppanen, global marketing communications leader of DuPont Nutrition & Health, a Food Vision Platinum partner.

"It encouraged an open vision exchange around future challenges and opportunities for the industry, including innovation, sustainability and security.”

Planning for the 2014 Food Vision summit will begin immediately with FoodNavigator and NutraIngredients editors, according to Andrew Reed, WRBM managing director of events and exhibitions.

“Feedback from delegates and partners suggests we have created something unique that the industry needs and will value. We are delighted to confirm its continuance.”

Future visions

Dates for Food Vision 2014 will be announced shortly and, based on positive feedback to date from partners and delegates, expectations are high. “We hosted several of our valued clients and partners at Food Vision as our VIP guests,” said Dr James Bauly of DSM Nutritional Products, a Food Vision Platinum Partner. “Their response has been phenomenal. In addition to building good will with our existing base, we made valuable new contacts, which I am confident will deliver value to us in the short and long term.”

The thoughts and observations of 2013 Food Vision partners and delegates will be taken into account in future planning. “We are already entering into discussions with partners about how we can build on success and collecting feedback from delegates,” says Reed.

Innovation, dialogue, networking were the order of the day(s) at Food Vision 2013

Delegates and participants described Food Vision as:

“…thought provoking and challenging…” Philip Parsons, Senior Director Global R&D, Coca-Cola

“…a great opportunity to network and discuss ideas…” Marko Schreiber, Global Applied Science Manager, Mars GmbH Verden

“A unique experience I would definitely recommend…” Gavin Stainton, Product Innovation Director, Herbalife Europe

“…an intellectual tour de force with superb speakers and delegates…” James S Tonkin, President, Healthy Brand Builders

Dr Paul Castle, innovation pipeline manager at GlaxoSimithKline concluded: “Food Vision stretched expectations. I felt both educated and reflective. It helped me think of how I can do things better.”

Other Food Vision Partners commented:

“Food Vision has more than matched our expectations. An exceptional programme, superb organisation and an impressive audience. It provided us and our VIP guests with fresh insights and commercially valuable contacts.” Sofie De Lathouwer, marketing director Food Manufacturers Western Europe, Barry Callebaut.

“Food Vision has been dynamic and interactive with top level delegates looking to the future. The content has been well balanced with innovation central to all discussions.” Michel Dewael, commercial director, Cosucra.

Objectives, objectively...

Food Vision has confirmed its threefold objective; to bring the international food, drink and nutrition industry together for mutual benefit, to promote and share best practice and innovatory developments, and to foster peer-to-peer debate among business strategists and decision makers.

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FoodNavigator and NutraIngredients editors will remain closely involved in Food Vision. “Food Vision was created as a forum where industry leaders could be provoked by off-the-typical-agenda presentations and discourses that would help them steer the global food industry through the years ahead,” said Food USA senior editor, Stephen Daniells, PhD.

His European counterpart, Shane Starling, added: “From sustainability to consumer psychology to ingredient and food innovation, the summit delivered on its knowledge and networking promise. I am proud to be a part of it and look forward to Food Vision 2014."

Find out more about Food Vision at www.foodvisionevent.com.