Food Matters Live expands European reach with new Rotterdam event

October 3, 2024 Editor

Food Matters Live has announced its European debut with its first-ever event in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Food Matters Live is an events organiser providing a unique platform for the food and drinks industry that supports food ingredient innovation, sustainability, and industry collaboration.

For over a decade, Food Matters Live events have been the go-to for ingredient innovators, offering dynamic technical showcases and exclusive tasting sessions to spotlight their solutions. This enables food manufacturers, retailers and brands to strengthen their collaboration with ingredient suppliers, gaining valuable insights and guidance for new product development (NPD).

The events are also well-known for offering a business-focused platform to individual partners, including companies such as AAK, Azelis, Beneo, Daabon, International Flavours & Fragrances (IFF), Kalsec, Kerry and Kreglinger.

A unique format for Rotterdam

With a decade of experience, Food Matters Live Rotterdam will feature distinctive programmes, including the flagship “Tastes of Better” ingredient innovation showcases, together with four main stages, dedicated roundtables and an “ingredient discovery” business meeting programme, delivering an unparalleled experience for attendees.

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 will be able to utilise full innovation kitchens and bring ingredient innovation to life for a pre-qualified VIP audience.

The main stages will combine thought leadership with industry best practice case studies. Industry leaders will address popular themes such as market and consumer insights & trends, sustainable sourcing strategies and regulations, new drivers in positive nutrition, and food innovation for food service.

The expert-led roundtables, with tailored discussions designed to explore solutions to some of the pressing issues challenging the food and drink industry.

For the Rotterdam event, Food Matters Live will also host an “ingredient discovery” 1-2-1 meeting programme, offering tailored industry networking and business development opportunities.

Building on the success of the events in the UK and Ireland, Food Matters Live Rotterdam will bring together over 550 attendees, over 100 speakers across four main stages and 10 exclusive tasting sessions.

“The future of the industry is reliant on a multi-stakeholder approach to meet consumer needs for a sustainable, nutritious and affordable food system. With this in mind, we look forward to connecting those at the forefront of innovation in the European food and drink sector, helping the industry shape new market trends and developments,” said Briony Mansell-Lewis, Managing Director of Food Matters Live.

UK’s leading food and drink industry events organiser expands to Europe amid growing success

With the success of the current 2024 series, which to date has brought together over 2,500 high-level attendees across the UK and Ireland, Food Matters Live is set to make its continental Europe debut. Rotterdam, known for its innovation in sustainable food and nutrition, will host the event between 23 and 24 September 2025 at the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre.

“I am proud and excited to welcome Food Matters Live for the first time at the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre in September 2025. This leading event offers a unique opportunity to explore the future of food, health, and sustainability together. With its innovative spirit and diverse culinary culture, Rotterdam is the perfect location for this ground breaking gathering of experts, entrepreneurs, and pioneers in the food industry,” said Karin Segers, director of conventions at the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre.

“Rotterdam offers great facilities and is logistically convenient both locally and internationally. Most importantly, the city is at the heart of the Dutch – and European – food and drink industry, making it an ideal setting to explore, among other topics, sustainable sourcing and food innovation,” said Ms Briony Mansell-Lewis.

“We invite our existing and new partners and participants to join us in Rotterdam for this exciting event. Save these dates and join us in shaping the future of the food and drink industry,” Food Matters Live’s managing director concluded.

The Rotterdam event will take place simultaneously with Gastvrij Rotterdam, the second largest hospitality tradeshow in the Netherlands, providing additional value and networking opportunities for attendees.

“We are thrilled that Food Matters Live will debut in the Netherlands this September at the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre, in conjunction with Gastvrij Rotterdam. By connecting these two prestigious events, we bring together the best of hospitality, food innovation, and sustainability under one roof. This synergy will create an unparalleled platform for industry professionals to collaborate and shape the future of food and hospitality,” said Robert Melaard, managing director of Gastvrij Rotterdam.