Food & Drink Expo 2023: Five Takeaways for the UK Food & Drink Sector
Cover image source: Food & Drink Expo
Earlier this week, F!S Group attended the Food & Drink Expo 2023.
As the UK's premiere trade show for the food and drink sector, there were plenty of new products to get excited about and interesting talks to pick up on.
From uncovering hot new trends and cutting-edge innovations, to hearing the industry’s vision for the future, there was more than enough to keep us on our feet all day.
Here are five of the key takeaways our Innovation Consultant & Head Development Chef Ben Rowland pulled away from the Expo!
1. Functional products
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In particular, CBD. After a clamp down on new products, new licences are slowly being issued for the use of new CBD products. Everything from vapes to oils, sweets to wine, this is clearly a growth sector.
Rebel Wine Ltd have a great range of wines infused with CBD, and I expect big things from Orange County CBD with their great range of products.
2. Combat sport endorsements
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Have chefs had their day in the spotlight? PRIME energy drink by YouTubers KSI and Logan Paul has set the bar extremely high for levels of hype and hysteria for a sports drink - empty bottles have sold for £00’s!
With Tyson Fury (Wow Hydrate) & Paddy Pimblett (Body Fuel) throwing their hats into the ring…will we see a battle royal?
3. Fermentation and preservation
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Highlights included fermented tea sparkling wine from The Real Drinks Co. which has superb depth and complexity, and is making waves throughout food service as the demand for new and interesting alternatives to alcohol are being sought.
Willy's ACV were showcasing a new range of drinkable vinegar shots. As a long-term fan of their live apple cider vinegar, these are a welcome addition to the range.
4. UK spirits outside of gin
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Rum seemed to be the flavour of choice as small independents venture away from a saturated gin market.
Most interestingly was Tiptree utilising its vast repertoire of fruits to distil some really interesting aperitifs.
However my favourite was from The Wasabi Company, with their ‘yuzucello’. A beautifully-vibrant yuzu flavour, perfect on its own over ice or mixed to add a huge yuzu punch.
5. Lack of alt-meat
No-one can deny the meteoric rise of alt-meat on the UK scene. The marketing push and prevalence of this sector is everywhere... except at the Food & Drink Expo.
Has this area begun to burn out? Are they not allowed to play in the yard of mainstream producers?
My guess is they are still focusing on target consumers instead of becoming part of the repertoire of mainstream food service and convenience.
Are you making the most of emerging food trends?
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