FUTURE FOOD500

• As the beverage market continues to grow, which beverages with unique flavours and formats are upcoming?
• From wellness to lifestyle fit, what formulations are Gen Zs drinking in 2026?
• Quality over quantity: Is there a demand for premiumization?
• What are the driving factors for hybrid beverages’ popularity?
• How are technological advancements aiding and creating new and appealing options?

• With consumers seeking food as medicine, what are the growing plant based and functional foods trending in 2026?
• How are brands expanding into new plant-based categories while maintaining their identity and customer loyalty?
• With growing demands for locally sourced ingredients, what impact will this have on vertical farming small-scale producers?
• Building trust and meeting consumer demands with clean label ingredients
• Exploring benefits and disadvantages with using novel proteins

Bruce Woolner, Director, Kai Gourmet Foodstuff Supply LLC

• From enhancing efficiency to reducing waste how are we ensuring food safety throughout the supply chain?
• Understanding the roadblocks to support transparency and traceability
• What are the barriers preventing developing countries to adopt AI?
• Strategies for minimizing the unpredictability and volatility in food supply demand
• What are the key practical implementations and barriers for supply chain manager involved in deploying the technology?

• Learn how companies are adopting lightweight strategies for reduced and minimalist packaging
• Discover trends in utilizing eco-friendly materials to reduce environmental impact?
• How is technology shaping product design? Explore the latest packaging design trends seen today
• What is the biggest cost-related barriers and how can these be overcome?
• How are companies navigating complex rules and regulations whilst maintaining food safety?

• How is AI transforming the sales landscape for retailers?
• From aisles to algorithms: How does AI tackle the unique challenges grocers face daily?
• The “magic” of AI’s ability to connect consumers to products
• Using customer data to design and deliver lucrative results
• What impact will automation have on the retail workforce?
• How AI is enhancing the shopping experience with a personalized approach

• Securing food systems amidst tariff pressures
• How resilient has trade in food been to sudden global issues?
• What are companies doing to tackle continuing climate change issues?
• How are policy makers helping to safeguard stability?
• How does rising costs and supply chain disruptions impact the future of food trade?

• What actions can be taken to give higher priority to ensure and maintain food safety throughout the supply chain?
• How can we better leverage technology to shape and transform food safety?
• Enabling consumers to understand the influence of emerging therapies in food
• Future Focus: Enhancing traceability to enable prevention

• Leveraging AI to create more engaging and tailored marketing campaigns
• Exploring innovative avenues to drive profitability
• Which technological initiatives are utilized to provide personalized product recommendations?
• Refining your distribution operations with the use of AI
• Exploring the connection between AI and human collaboration

• Understanding the current competitive landscape
• Expecting the unexpected: budgeting and supply chain
• Why creating an effective distribution model; is key to your success
• Important rules and policies, you must be aware of
• Do’s and don’ts and tips and tricks in MENA

This hands-on workshop reveals how artificial intelligence is revolutionizing market research and product development, giving forward-thinking businesses a critical competitive advantage.

Learn to leverage AI tools to dramatically reduce research timelines while improving accuracy in trend identification. Through real case studies, you'll see how companies have successfully transformed emerging patterns into profitable product categories—often before competitors even recognize the opportunity exists. We'll guide you through practical frameworks for closing the gap between spotting a trend and launching a market-ready product, with specific focus on recognizing which patterns have genuine scale potential versus fleeting fads.

Participants will leave with actionable methodologies for integrating AI into their innovation processes, cutting research time in half while making more confident, data-driven decisions about product development and market entry.

• Identifying which products to focus on and why
• Study and consider consumer trends, behaviours and demands
• Adopting and embracing digital innovation across the business
• Seeking funding opportunities from private and public entities
• Improving your staff’s talents and skills

• Identifying market gaps that present an opportunity for you
• The importance of branding and strategic positioning
• Creating a sound marketing strategy that works for your target market
• Establishing relationships with potential manufacturers
• Expect the unexpected: Managing budgeting challenges

• Insights into what motivates consumers’ choice
• How your marketing concepts affect your relationship with your customer
• Understanding different generations appreciation an adoption of AI
• Why cultural insight is the unseen force that shape consumer choices
• How to navigate consumer expectations and unlock new opportunities