Plant Based World Expo announces conference sessions and features

Plant Based World Expo Europe, the largest 100% plant-based trade event in Europe, has announced its conference line up for the Plant Based World Pulse Theatre, taking place at ExCeL London on 15th and 16th November 2023. 

Featuring Veganuary’s 10th anniversary global film premiere, leadership addresses, and panels focussing on collective challenges affecting the UK’s vegan food industry, the theatre will bring together academics, regulatory advisors, thought leaders and industry organisations to plan and implement change.

The line-up announcement comes as over 900 academics call for 100% plant-based meals at UK universities to help fight the climate crisis. Visitors will hear from academics, institutions, innovators, retailers, award-winning activists, entrepreneurs and investors, as well as some of the best-known journalists and broadcasters in the food and drink industry.

The line-up includes: 

Changing the Culture of Food on University Menus, November 16, 10:30am – 11:15am

Featuring: Joanna Randall, Plant-Based Advocacy Specialist, Humane Society International UK and Claire Atkins Morris, Sustainability Director , Sodexo UK&I

Can establishments and operators significantly reduce their carbon footprint?  Showcasing those taking steps to reduce the meat and dairy on their menus and demonstrating how others can get involved.  

A Pragmatic Look at the Meat-Alternative Market and Where it Could Go

November 15, 11:30am – 12:15pm

Featuring Rabinder Harrison, Commercial Director, Veg Capital, Prof. Andrew Godley, Entrepreneurship & Innovation, University of Sussex Business School and Scott King, Brands Strategy Manager, Waitrose. 

Arguably one of the most competitive categories within plant-based, meat alternatives took retailers and menus by storm in the past five years. This unprecedented market has surprised everyone, but what’s next for the space?

How Brands can Navigate Foodservice for Long-Term Success 

November 16, 2:00pm – 2:45pm 

Featuring Jack Rutherford, Commercial Director, THIS™️ and Dean Wilson Hartles, Director of Food & Drinks, The Restaurant Group PLC.

How can brands create long-lasting relationships with restaurant operators and contract caterers, inspiring them to integrate products onto their menus for more than one season to achieve foodservice success.

Can New Technologies like Cultivated Meat and Precision Fermentation Attract More Consumers to the Alternative Protein Category?

November 15, 10:30am – 11:15am 

Featuring Carlotte Lucas, Senior Corporate Engagement Manager, The Good Food Institute. Oscar Zollman Thomas, Impact Manager, Formo and Jago Pearson, Chief Strategy Officer Finnebrogue Artisan and John Athanatos, Head of Regulatory and Scientific Affairs, Nestle Nutrition

With a wide range of food tech start-ups now gaining traction, concepts like cultivated meat and animal-free dairy are now more fact than science fiction, but who are the target consumers of these products, and could they help persuade new consumers?

Back To Basics: Putting Whole Food Plant-Based Products Centre of Plate

November 15, 2:00pm – 2:45pm

Featuring chef and trained butcher Neil Rankin, Founder, Symplicity Foods.

We’ve come full circle. From the early days of breaded vegetable fingers to full-on bleeding burger patties, we are now seeing many brands centring vegetables, legumes, and other whole foods in their products. How can we ensure simple-to-read ingredients lists and fewer additives to satisfy consumer’s tastebuds and nutritional expectations?

A Key Buyer Program and networking events will help to ensure some of the decisions are put into action, connecting retail and foodservice decision makers with innovators creating the next generation of plant-based foods.

Reminding people of what’s possible, attendees will witness the inspiring UK Film Premiere; “It’ll Never Catch On: The Veganuary Story 10 Years On” (Nov 16, 11:30am – 12:30pm). The short film marks 10 years from the creation of Veganuary, the global campaign that encourages consumers to ‘try vegan’ for January. This will be followed by a Q&A featuring founders Jane Land and Matthew Glover, alongside   BOSH! – Henry Firth & Ian Theasby, the world’s best-selling and biggest plant-based authors.

Abigail Stevens, Marketing Director of show organiser JD Events, comments: 

“Our stage is home to more than just a conversation about where plant-based is going; it provides a platform for collaboration between change makers and has become a driving force behind Plant Based 2.0 – taking the industry to the next level.”

Now in its third year, registration for the show is open to the food and beverage industry, including retailers, foodservice professionals and investors. It’s an opportunity to discover the latest and greatest products in the UK vegan food market, one of the largest in Europe and growing by 9.58%. 

For further information and the full conference line-up please visit: https://plantbasedworldeurope.com/conference/

To register to attend Plant Based World Europe, please visit: http://www.plantbasedworldeurope.com/.