Inside Food Trends & Innovations 2026 Conference: here's what retail leaders need to know

The pace of change in food and drink has rarely felt this pronounced. Shifting consumer expectations, new health dynamics, and increasing cost pressures are forcing brands and retailers to rethink how products are developed, positioned, and brought to market.

The upcoming Food & Drink Trends & Innovations Conference in London brings these pressures into focus, with a programme built around one central question: how do you turn emerging trends into commercially viable, scalable growth?

Speakers from organisations including Diageo, Compass Group, Just Eat Takeaway, Mondelēz International, Pret A Manger, KFC, Domino’s, and Holland & Barrett will share how they are responding to these shifts in real-time - across innovation, marketing, and retail execution.

Decoding a more complex consumer

At the centre of this shift is a more complex consumer. Value is no longer defined purely by price. Instead, it is shaped by a mix of health, quality, experience, and emotional connection.

Panels exploring the modern shopper mindset point to a landscape where affordability must coexist with premiumisation, and where brands are expected to deliver both function and enjoyment in equal measure.

Health, functionality, and the GLP-1 effect

Health and functionality continue to dominate innovation pipelines, but the definition of “healthy” is evolving. It now extends beyond calories and macros into areas such as mental wellbeing, energy, and lifestyle alignment. Functional ingredients, from gut health solutions to nootropics, are moving into the mainstream.

Overlaying this is the growing impact of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, which are beginning to reshape consumption patterns at a fundamental level. Reduced portion sizes, increased demand for nutrient density, and a shift towards quality over quantity are already influencing product strategy.

For many in the industry, this represents one of the most significant behavioural shifts in decades, requiring a reassessment of everything from formulation to pricing and positioning.

AI, data, and faster innovation cycles

At the same time, innovation itself is becoming more data driven. AI is moving from theory into application, supporting faster product development, more accurate trend forecasting, and deeper consumer insight.

Used well, it offers a route to reduce risk in NPD and improve speed to market — critical advantages in a category where timing often defines success.

Delivering innovation under pressure

Innovation is not happening in a vacuum. Cost pressures remain a defining constraint. As consumers become more price-conscious, the ability to deliver affordable innovation is becoming a key competitive differentiator.

This is forcing tighter collaboration between R&D, marketing, and commercial teams, ensuring that new products are not only appealing but commercially viable at scale.

From sustainability messaging to operational reality

Sustainability continues to move beyond messaging into execution. Packaging, sourcing, and production decisions are now expected to balance environmental impact with cost efficiency and regulatory compliance.

The shift is pragmatic: sustainability must make business sense, not just brand sense.

A programme built for execution

Taking place on 12th May in London, the 12th annual Food & Drink Trends & Innovations Conference brings together senior leaders across brand, retail, and manufacturing for a focused, one-day programme.

The agenda spans consumer insight, functional health, AI led innovation, sustainability, affordability, and the future of retail - alongside dedicated sessions on the GLP-1 consumer shift, protein and fibre innovation, and evolving global food strategies.

With more than 25 speakers and multiple interactive panels, the focus is on translating insight into action — giving attendees a clear view of how to turn emerging trends into practical, commercially viable strategies.

Register your place

Use code RTIH to receive £225 off your delegate pass.