Using Emerging Trend and Product Formulations to Boost Your Bottom Line
Wednesday, March 24, 2010
12:45 – 1:45 p.m.
- Krista Faron, Ph.D., Senior Analyst, Mintel International Group
- David Lewis, M.B.A., Wellness Brand Manager, Tate & Lyle
- Andy Hoffman, Ph.D., Director of Wellness, Tate & Lyle
Healthy eating isn't just about counting calories, and functional ingredients have become key considerations for consumers seeking healthier food options. In this session, you will acquire health and wellness intelligence that will help you jump-start the strategic decision-making processes for developing foods and beverages that build consumer loyalty. Consumers prefer functional, recognizable nutrients, like fiber, to help them reach their healthy eating goals, and food manufacturers are responding to changing consumer needs. Relying on custom quantitative and qualitative research, experts from Mintel and Tate & Lyle will provide insights regarding the evolving health and wellness product landscape and the trends affecting new product development.
About the Speakers:
Krista Faron’s role as a senior analyst with the Research Consultancy Group at Mintel involves partnering with clients in the consumer packaged goods industry. Her work focuses on identifying trends and leveraging them to foster innovation and new product development. Through her work as a trends analyst, she is a regular contributor to industry trade publications, including Dairy Foods and Prepared Foods. Prior to her work at Mintel, she was a senior account manager at Slack Barshinger, a business-to-business marketing communications agency in Chicago, where she managed integrated marketing programs in addition to branding.
David Lewis, brand manager of Wellness at Tate & Lyle, oversees the development of new product launches using health and wellness ingredients. He has unparalleled knowledge of consumer insights and product positioning to gain consumer loyalty. With nearly 25 years managing sales and marketing for Omega-3 fatty acids, fiber, and protein, he has served as an expert in U.S. and global industry trade media, including Food Business News, Food Processing, and Dairy Foods. He remains at the forefront of nutrition and health by working closely with registered dietitians to help drive new product development to meet consumer desires. Mr. Lewis holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Western Illinois University.
Dr. Andy Hoffman is Tate & Lyle’s director of Wellness Innovation, and leads a team of research and nutrition scientists who are focused on leveraging the latest consumer trends for the development of new product formulations. With over 15 years of product development, research, and marketing experience, he is a notable expert in the fiber industry, and has served as an expert spokesperson in industry trade publications including Prepared Foods and Beverage World, and in global media outlets. He is a member of the American Chemical Society, and holds a bachelor’s degree in pharmacy and a doctorate in medicinal chemistry from Purdue University. Dr. Hoffman was a prestigious post-doctorial fellow for Molecular Modeling at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.