The new R&D engine for your business designed to give new ideas and wider opportunities to Food and Drink Companies.

Our objective is to give your company access to the best scientific expertise on new foods.  Now in its third year the New Foods Forum works at the international forefront of developments in this fast-moving area of food innovation.  Formally known as the Functional Food Forum the New Foods Forum has now expanded to include additional areas of development in the food and drink industry.

The New Foods Forum generates innovative ideas for food and drink ingredients, products and processes through the interaction of a multi-disciplinary group of academics. These ideas are then selected by, and further developed with, industry members.

The three main pillars of the NFF are:

• Functional Foods
• Redefining Foods
• Health and Wellbeing

Attendance at the New Foods Forum is restricted to member companies. Companies joining the Forum benefit from exclusive access to the food innovations evolved by the Forum's academic members. These provide opportunities for accelerated company progression in this field.

Benefits of Membership

• New business opportunities via the forum and between members
• Rapid routes to market from shared innovation
• Increased margins from innovative products
• Production of good healthier foods with extra features
• Greater R&D and innovation opportunities from collaboration
• International business models including SE Asia and Scandinavia
• Succession planning for your product portfolio
• Long term planning for your business supported by information on leading developments

The New Foods Forum consists of:

• A multi-disciplinary academic group, made up of scientists and researchers from a number of academic groups/institutions.
• An industry group comprising Forum industrial member representatives from food, drink and allied companies. The full Industry Group meet annually with the Academic Group for a full Forum meeting.  Each company member has the option of a single company innovation meeting with the academic group

Full Forum Meetings

• At the full Forum meetings, the Academic Group presents their theoretical innovations to the Industry Group
• Forum members can decide on which of any proposals they wish to progress and agree actions with the relevant academics and other collaborating companies
• Any proposed innovations which are rejected by the Industry Group will then be offered to non-members by the Academic Group after a short period
• Each meeting also includes updates in the area of New Foods Forum and presentations on topics requested by the industrial members

Single Company Innovation Meetings with Academics

• The company gives a short presentation about their company's interest and plans in the New Foods area
• The presentation asks specific questions of the academics who will be from different disciplines and institues
• The company requirements are discussed by the academic group
• Company delegates are welcome to stay and join the discussion
• A report on the outcomes of the meeting is provided to the company
• Each single company innovation meeting is confidential to the company attending
• Every company member is entitled to a single company innovation meeting per year of membership

Membership of the Forum
Membership of the Industry Group is open to all Food & Drink companies (including packaging, pharmaceutical and other food related companies) 

Membership includes the following:

• An initial meeting with the Forum organisers to assess and scope the company's interests and desires in new foods; this will inform the direction of academic innovation.
• Industry Group members will receive confidential Food Innovation Reports and presentations covering new food innovation ideas.
• An invitation for 2 representatives to attend Full Forum and Single Company Innovation Meetings
• The opportunity to get involved with other companies in the development of new products and processes for your business.
• Input into the academic meetings and the option to raise specific issues relating to your company in a confidential setting
• Presentations and research from UK and international industry and academic experts
• A buffet and networking opportunity at each Full Forum meeting.

Members also benefit from the opportunity to participate in exploratory visits to areas of particular activity in new foods.  Although the cost of the visit will be additional to membership fees, members will benefit from priority booking and reduced rates.

Cost of Membership
The Forum has secured funding for a limited number of trial memberships at the next forum meeting.  For further details contact the NFF

How to join the Forum
If you are interested in joining the New Foods Forum or would like further information, please contact the Food Chain on +44 (0) 113 343 7593