32: Finding the right ingredient: the trend-setters and taste-makers of food

The ingredients sector is constantly under pressure to deliver new flavours, experiences, and sensations. It's also expected to lead the way on health and sustainability. Consumer demand, amplified by social media, has led to a surge in new food trends in the last few years, and ingredients companies have had to react swiftly to support these needs. In the latest podcast we sat down with four experts from Brenntag, Kalsec, GNT and FMCG Gurus who will explain how ingredients companies manage to respond to these changing trends, and what they see as the trends that will drive the future of food and drink. Joining our panel today are: Tayab Haq, Business Development Manager, Brenntag Tayab is a Food Technologist with 18 years manufacturing experience. He has worked in NPD roles across a diverse range of categories for major UK food manufacturers; sandwiches, desserts, ready meals, herbs & spices, sauces and soups. Tayab has managed teams in the UK and France and even spent 6 months living and studying in France during his degree. Inspired to go into the food industry after a family friend got him tickets for an open day at an ice cream factory, he now enjoys helping manufacturers with technical and formulation advice on ingredients in his current role with Brenntag Food & Nutrition. Helen Vine, Business Development Manager, GNT Helen Vine is Business Development Manager for GNT UK and has extensive experience supporting the industry to create colourful and appetising food and drink products using EXBERRY® Colouring Foods. Helen’s background is technical having studied Food Science and Nutrition at Nottingham University and started her career as a Nutritionist for a Food Supplement manufacturer before spending 5 year in alcoholic beverage development for a major International brewery prior to joining GNT in 2005. Helen is an ambassador for delivering colour in the most healthy and natural way and takes pride in supporting successful product development and marketing from concept to launch. Mike Hughes, Head of Insight, FMCG Gurus Mike Hughes has over 13 years’ experience analysing consumer trends, attitudes and behaviours and currently heads up the research and insight division at FMCG Gurus. Mike has a particular interest in highlighting how consumer attitudes and behaviours can often differ and what the true meaning of trends are for the industry. Gareth Jones, Protein Sector Specialist, Kalsec Gareth Jones is Protein Sector Specialist for Kalsec Europe, working with the company’s natural spice and herb extracts to add value to food manufactures in Europe. Holding a degree in microbiology, Gareth has previously worked within the dairy sector alongside QSRs and retailers, with functional starches and wheat proteins, and with both natural and high intensity sweeteners. Gareth has also worked with natural antimicrobial products, specifically in the meat and poultry sectors. His current role for Kalsec focuses on partnering with customers in traditional meat and poultry applications alongside the continuously evolving alternative protein market.