Vitafoods Insights Podcast

The push for sustainable packaging alternatives to replace plastic counterparts. Plastic remains the packaging material of choice across the food and nutrition industry thanks to its cost effective, shelf stable, durable and variable associations. However, huge carbon footprints and waste challenges throughout the plastic lifecycle have put pressure on multiple industries to consider packaging alternatives that work toward overcoming the climate and environmental crisis.  In this https://www.vitafoodsinsights.com/ (Vitafoods Insights) podcast, Ulla Hahn of Sanner discusses sustainable packaging for nutraceutical brands and provides a framework of the bioplastic opportunity. Since joining Sanner in 1995, Ulla has worked across quality management, packaging development, innovation management and product management, where she gained a wealth of expertise in desiccant and effervescent packaging development. Since 2017, she has been the head of product management and leads the company’s bio-based packaging de

Understanding the concept and impact of vertical farming. For this https://www.vitafoodsinsights.com/ (Vitafoods Insights) podcast episode, Johnny Stormonth-Darling, Technical Director at https://www.ukuat.org/ (UK Urban AgriTech,) share insights on: What is vertical farming The role vertical farming plays in ensuring food safety, food security, food quality  Vertical farming’s role in increasing the chances for more potent bioactive ingredients How vertical farms help to achieve the https://sdgs.un.org/goals (Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs))

Tune in hear about the Vitafoods Insights Virtual Expo 2021’s round-up and key takeaways. Each day of the https://www.vitafoodsglobal.com/insights (Virtual Expo) centred around one of four key themes, providing insights and sparking new ideas around Mental Performance, Gut and Immune Health, Sports and Active Nutrition and Healthy Ageing. Hear more directly from the Vitafoods #Contentteam how the event went!

Understanding how a shift in consumer mindset presents new opportunities to nutraceutical brands, and guidance for EU/UK brands looking to enter this market. Accelerated through the pandemic, consumers in China are more dedicated to healthy ageing than ever before—including an increasing base of younger consumers proactively addressing prevention. Within the ageing category, inner beauty is a particular area of interest driving new launches in edible beauty products. Additionally, sleep and general anxiety management through dietary supplementation is seeing significant uptake. Tune into this podcast with Zarina Kanji, Tmall Business Development lead for Health & Wellness and Food & Beverage Brandshttps://www.alibaba.com (, Alibaba Group Europe), to learn more about:   How Chinese consumer attitudes toward ageing have shifted over the past few years, including through the COVID-19 pandemic   Defining healthy ageing and position

Exploring how the nutraceutical industry can and must achieve health for both people and planet. The importance of sustainability is increasingly recognised by the nutraceutical community, and sustainability is on the agenda of consumers, government and nutraceutical brands and manufacturers around the world. But what exactly constitutes a sustainable diet, and how can consumers, brands and ingredients companies find a necessary unity between dietary and planetary health? In a conversation spanning food security, sustainable food systems and corporate responsibility, Vitafoods Insights spoke to founder and director of sustainable food consultancy, Mark Driscoll, about his concept of ‘sustainable nutrition’.  Tune in to learn about:  A definition of ‘sustainable nutrition’ How to educate consumers on the importance of sustainable diets Why collaboration across the supply chain is essential in revolutionising the way we see functional food and nutraceuticals Whether the plant-based movement is the sol

As consumers seek more natural health care solutions, companies like Uriach are evaluating their own strategic positioning to best meet market needs. With its recent acquisition of Sidroga, the 180-year-old firm extended its reach into Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, and entering new product categories including immune support. https://www.uriach.com/en/ (Uriach’s) CEO Oriol Segarra has led the business since 2012, navigating through a time of transformation and the desire to meet consumer demands. With greater market consolidation in the pharma space, there has been an opportunity for smaller organisations to take on whitespace opportunities in the natural health care space. Consumers continue to seek new solutions for their health care needs, particularly driven by last year’s pandemic, further focusing on preventive solutions. What lies ahead? Segarra expects to see the company extend its reach geographically as well as further differentiating the product mix it offers.

As genomics technologies continue to evolve, the need for interpreting consumers’ genetics is increasing. Thus, the role of consumers' genetics in the nutraceutical industry could quickly become more prominent.  As consumers are learning more about the need for a personalised nutrition approach to achieve optimal health, Rachel Clarkson, specialist dietitian at https://thednadietitian.co.uk/ (The DNA Dietitian), joined me to share her passion and knowledge about the nutrigenomics market.  Tune in to hear more about: How personalised nutrition is important for ensuring each person is living at their optimal health  Consumers' perspective on wants and needs – what are they looking to achieve by taking a personalised nutrition approach  How market demand around personalised nutrition market demand has increased in the past years, months and through COVID-19 Most common reasons that lead consumers to consider personalised nutrition  Things industry players active in the personalised nutri

The very real issues of climate change are putting increased pressure on industries to reduce their environmental footprint and build sustainable business and production models. Within the natural products supply chain, ingredients manufacturing contributes significantly to the overall carbon footprint of finished products that retail at consumer level. With tighter regulations on the horizon and consumers holding brands accountable, companies are starting to seriously evaluate carbon impact across the supply chain.  In this podcast, Simon Levesque, business development director at Nexira, speaks to the importance of achieving carbon neutral for ingredients manufacturers. Tune in to hear more about:  The need to drive more action around carbon footprint reduction plans to meet environmental needs and customer expectations Regulators and legislation in coming years that could cause supply chain to reform quicker than anticipated  Communicating carbon action to consumers through on-package inform

Discover fermentation as a platform for the delivery of functional ingredients Although most people associate fermentation with yogurt and probiotic products, it is important to understand the different application of fermentative processes within food production and application. As fermentation is now being associated with food innovation, Aline de Santa Izabel, Founder at YOGUT ME joined me for this podcast episode to discuss the trendy topic of fermentation as a platform for the delivery of functional ingredients.  Tune in to hear more about:  the role fermentation plays in food or ingredient application the drive for fermentation biotechnology applications key insights or considerations industry players should keep in mind when exploring the use of fermentation delivery for their products the sustainability and opportunities behind fermentation as a platform of delivery of functional ingredients  the linking of fermentation and the personalised nutrition markets  the roles start-ups pl

Examining the growing opportunity for brands in the nootropics space. ‘Nootropics’ is the word on everyone’s lips in the nutraceutical community, but what exactly constitutes nootropics and how can brands capitalise on the growing popularity of this ingredient group? Ahead of his roundtable on COVID-19 and the nootropic opportunity at Vitafoods Insights Virtual Expo, David Tomen, founder of nootropicsexpert.com, shares the history of nootropics as well as current trends and whitespace in this category.  Tune in to learn about:  A definition of nootropics How to engage consumers with nootropics and the need for consumer education in the industry   What ingredients in particular are performing well in this market How brands can stay ahead in this increasingly competitive space How COVID-19 has affected the nootropics market and the opportunity that the pandemic gives to brands

Exploring how nutraceutical and functional food brands can take steps to ensure ethical and sustainable practise across the supply chain. Consumers are increasingly demanding ethical options in the functional food space and transparency in the supply chain of the products they buy. How can brands meet this call for sustainable business? Tom Smale, co-founder of Wunder Workshop, discusses the importance of consumption with purpose, and shares how his functional food business makes decisions based on a set of ethical and sustainable values to promote a transparent relationship between grower and consumer.  Tune in to learn about:  Why consumers are becoming more interested in ethical consumption The challenges and opportunities that come with making sustainable choices as a business How to educate consumers about the importance of opting for sustainable offering How to ensure that your products are both sustainably sourced and accessible The process of becoming a B Corps Innovations in sustainable pa

Personalised nutrition solutions may suit consumers’ desires to lead a longer, healthier life, addressing their specific concerns and bolstering longevity. While healthy ageing is a term widely used within the health and wellness industry, for consumers, it’s simply the way they’re looking to optimise their personal experience to stay active and engaged without compromise. Peter Wennstrom, founder of The Healthy Marketing Team (HMT), has explored the topic of healthy ageing for decades, and believes the pandemic is a ‘game changer’ in terms of accelerating interest in supporting lifelong wellness. Consumers seek solutions for health challenges; tests and technology, together with education, can raise the profile of personalised options. Individual lifestyle choices and health conditions impact consumers’ susceptibility to illness; a https://www.vitafoodsinsights.com/reports/next-personalised-nutrition-report (new report) unpacks how this consumer understanding is aligning with digital acceleration to shape th

How can nutraceutical and food brands meet the growing consumer demand for sustainable packaging? Traditional methods of packaging – both in the nutraceutical industry and the CPG space generally – are often not sustainable, and the rise of the plastic pollution problem necessitates change in the packaging materials we use. Reyna Bryan, President of RCD Packaging Innovation, discusses what her company is doing to innovate in this space, reveals the packaging materials of the future and shares more about the challenges and opportunities in sustainable packaging for the nutraceutical industry. Tune in to learn more about: Why sustainable packaging is an issue that the nutraceutical industry should prioritise How RCD Packaging are encouraging industry collaboration in order to innovate in this space  How brands can drive change in the packaging supply chain What questions brands should be asking their suppliers and manufacturers when trying to make their packaging more sustainable Find out more about https:

The top solution to enhance your productivity, yield, and quality. In this podcast, learn how SeaGel(R) can take your vegetarian soft capsule development and manufacturing to the next level. Sustainably sourced and proven by decades of use in commercial soft capsule products, SeaGel (R) delivers unique and unmatched formulation flexibility, quality and productivity benefits to allow your product to stand out and to address evolving consumer needs. Tune in to: Gain some latest data on the plant-based craze – is it here to stay and why is it important for capsules? Hear from our experts on how SeaGel(R) enables you to efficiently manufacture superior quality vegetarian softgels, even with very demanding fill materials Learn how SeaGel(R) makes thermally stable softgels that don't melt on their way to the consumers and addresses needs for label claims and experience

Extracted from the slimey coating on brown seaweed types, fucoidan is a dietary fibre with multiple applications in nutraceuticals, delivering potential across gut health, immunity, inflammation, and skin care.  A relatively new ingredient, fucoidan excites researchers and experts with its vast array of health benefits. Paul Garrott, CEO and managing director at Marinova, a Tasmanian biotech company specialising in fucoidan, shares an overview of this unique ingredient and its market potential.  Understanding how fucoidan is extracted and processed  Exploring known benefits and common applications, including interest in anti-viral and respiratory health properties The COVID-19 impact and identifying the greatest future market opportunities  Key considerations surrounding responsible sourcing for brand owners

A new standard from the European Committee for Standardisation aims to prevent doping substances in sports nutrition products.  On 22 February 2021, Specialised Nutrition Europe (SNE) welcomed the first EU-wide standard to address the presence of doping substances in sports nutrition and food supplements—the https://www.cencenelec.eu/news/brief_news/Pages/TN-2021-010.aspx (CEN “Dietary supplements and sports foods free of doping substances") standard. Aurélie Perrichet, Executive Director at SNE, joined us to discuss this new standard and what it means for the nutraceutical industry. Tune in to hear more about:  The importance of the new CEN standard to the nutraceutical industry What requirements and changes companies based in the EU should pay close attention to in order to keep in compliance with the CEN standard How the CEN standard affects the lives of consumers, athletes, and sportspeople How the CEN standard differs from others in the global market  Click https://www.cencenelec.eu/n

Unique delivery systems and personalised nutrition connections are among the differentiators supporting growth of the healthy ageing segment in APAC. Partnerships with technology companies and scientific research into new ingredients are also fuelling the growth of solutions for healthy ageing—throughout a lifetime. As Bettina Hudry-Gerez and Florent Eveillard, heads of APAC with Alcimed, detailed in their https://www.alcimed.com/en/position-paper-healthy-ageing/ (free position paper), there are myriad unique factors working synergistically to extend the market opportunity. Healthy ageing is not just for older consumers, but knowing the drivers for young adults is important to gaining interest. On-the-go and tasty options for product delivery are critical to repeat purchase and long-term investment, as a https://www.vitafoodsinsights.com/reports/future-healthy-ageing-report-0 (recent report) detailed. Partnerships between tech platforms and consumer brands will extend the reach of new product offerings. https

Understanding the impact of COVID-19 on clinical research in the consumer healthcare space. COVID-19 has accelerated many changes in clinical research, particularly in the consumer healthcare space. While natural health products are increasingly attractive to consumers, the pandemic has caused significant disruptions to the clinical trial enterprise. Felix Alt, Head of Clinical Operations at Analyze and Realize, discusses both the challenges and the opportunities COVID-19 has brought to clinical research and consumer healthcare. Tune in to learn about:  Why natural health products are increasingly attractive in COVID-19 times How this trend is shaping consumer’s health clinical research How Clinical Research Organisations (CROs) are adapting to the pandemic, including patient recruitment and the accelerated role of digitalisation

Discover trends and emerging ingredients to support new digestive health product launches in Asia. Globally, digestive health is a booming market with strong presence in various geos. Irene Kersbergan, Insights & Innovation manager APAC at https://www.innovamarketinsights.com/ (Innova Market Insights), discusses the importance of this area—focusing specifically in the Asia-Pacific region. Tune in to hear more about:   The importance of the digestive health market in the APAC region   Why it’s important to discuss digestive health   Trends and developments affecting the digestive health category  Emerging ingredients in the gut health industry  

With a significant reliance on natural resources and a robust supply chain, addressing climate change is key to the long-term survival of the nutraceuticals industry. Ahead of his Vitafoods Asia Digital Week presentation, Rushva Parihar, head of sustainability at OmniActive Health Technologies, discusses real implications of climate change for the nutrition supply chain, positive progress made, and ways companies can contribute to what needs to be a collective industry effort.