Food Matters Live: Rotterdam Programme Announced
June 3, 2025 - 4 min read
London, 15 May 2025 – Food Matters Live has unveiled the full programme for its inaugural continental Europe event, set to take place 23–24 September 2025 at the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre. Food Matters Live is an events organiser providing a unique platform for the food, drink and nutrition sectors, supporting innovation in food ingredients, functional nutrition, sustainability and cross-industry collaboration.
“Attendees will benefit from inspiring thought-leadership, technical expertise, structured networking, and expert-led discussions, all designed to support and accelerate innovation in new product development (NPD)," said Briony Mansell-Lewis, Managing Director of Food Matters Live.
With over 750 attendees, 100 expert speakers, and 100 curated sessions, the Rotterdam event features a series of unique, immersive programmes designed to bring ingredient innovation to life:
- The Tastes of Better programme will provide exclusive access to ingredient innovation showcases, featuring presentations and tastings by technical and culinary teams. As part of this programme, the event partners utilise full innovation kitchens to bring ingredient innovation to life for a pre-qualified VIP audience.
- Insights and Trends – With over 50 international speakers, this series covers key topics such as sustainable innovation, the future of NPD, ultra-processed foods, sustainable sourcing, protein diversification, and filling the fibre gap.
- Future of Positive Nutrition – Bringing together 50 voices from the global food and nutrition community to share cutting-edge science, research and ingredient innovation focused on healthy ageing, women’s health, active nutrition and more.
- The NPD Discovery Zone is a central feature of Food Matters Live in Rotterdam, offering practical insight into the latest ingredients, technologies, and innovation strategies shaping the future of food. From GLP-1 and clean label reformulation to carbon-neutral ingredients and emerging NPD services, this hub addresses a wide range of challenges facing today’s food and nutrition industry. With live demos and expert-led sessions, it brings together the tools and knowledge essential for navigating shifting consumer expectations, regulatory pressures, and the drive for sustainability. In this part of the programme, R&D, technical, and innovation teams from forward-thinking businesses come together to discover solutions that help them stay ahead in product development.
Reflecting on the format and similar events in the past, Head of Growth at Purezza said, “Food Matters Live was jam packed with fantastic workshops, tastings & talks. It was fascinating to learn about specialist ingredient suppliers & their innovative solutions.”
The event’s Lead Partners include some of the most influential names in the industry—AAK, Agrana Fruit, Ingredion, and Tate & Lyle—bringing a high level of insight and credibility to the programme. Alongside them, a wider group of expert contributors, including Rousselot, Ulrick & Short, ENOUGH, BESMOKE, ARBOREA, and Brightlands Nova Bite, will lead targeted sessions based on their industry expertise.
“We’re proud to be working with such a strong line-up of partners and contributors,” says Briony Mansell-Lewis, Managing Director of Food Matters Live. “Their involvement ensures the programme is rooted in real-world expertise and gives attendees access to practical, in-depth perspectives across key areas of innovation and product development. Whether it’s a global leader or a specialist innovator, each brings unique value to the conversations we’re curating in Rotterdam.”
A unique format for a European audience
With four main stages, exclusive tastings, and a bespoke 1-2-1 ingredient discovery business meeting programme, Rotterdam’s format will enable attendees to build meaningful connections and gain hands-on experience with next-gen ingredients. Running alongside Gastvrij Rotterdam, the second largest hospitality tradeshow in The Netherlands, it adds further value and networking opportunities for attendees.
That combination of access and inspiration is what previous participants have praised: “We found the sessions very insightful, learnt about some new techniques that are close to our hearts as innovators – I found it inspiring and it was helpful as a networking opportunity also.” – Senior Brand Manager, Unilever.
“The future of the food industry relies on cross-sector collaboration to meet evolving consumer expectations for sustainable, nutritious, and affordable food. Our event in Rotterdam brings this mission to life—offering unparalleled access to innovation, insights, and global expertise,” said Briony Mansell-Lewis, Managing Director of Food Matters Live.
About Food Matters Live
Food Matters Live is a UK-based events organiser serving as a platform for the food and drink industry to explore, innovate and integrate new solutions to future-proof the future of food, bringing together experts through a series of high-level, unique events.
Note to editors
Rotterdam, home to Europe’s largest seaport is a key hub for the global food and drinks supply chain. The 60-hectare Rotterdam Food Hub, designed to support the agrifood sector, offers modern facilities near the port, boosting the efficiency and sustainability of food logistics. The city also hosts various sustainable food production projects, including carbon-neutral beverage factories.
