Fi Europe returns to Messe Frankfurt from 17–19 November 2026 with an expanded agenda designed to address rapid transformations across food, beverage, and pet nutrition.

Featuring analysis and deep dives from academia, start-ups, multinationals, and market research leaders — including Innova Market Insights, Mintel, Euromonitor International, and FMCG Gurus — the three-day programme connects technical expertise with commercial strategy to solve shared value-chain challenges.

Formulating food for the GLP-1 era

The rapid global adoption of GLP-1 medications is reshaping consumer appetites, weight management goals, and expectations surrounding satiety and blood sugar control. Day three of the event features a dedicated Weight Management Spotlight to tackle these formulation shifts:

• Keynote session: Sophia Cornelius, registered dietitian and specialised nutrition analyst at Mintel, presents From pharmaceuticals to food: What the GLP-1 era means for nutrition innovation.
• Strategic focus: analysing specific food products designed for GLP-1 users, alongside broader ingredient strategies targeting metabolic health, appetite control, and satiety.

Rising standards in pet nutrition

Driven by pet humanisation, owners are applying human-grade nutritional expectations to pet food, making it one of the industry’s fastest-growing segments. The new Pet Food and Nutrition Forum explores regulatory, formulation, and commercial realities:

• Transparency, trust, and compliance: a panel featuring Mike Hughes (head of research and insight at FMCG Gurus) and Bill Bookout (president of the National Animal Supplement Council) examines how brands can innovate ambitiously while maintaining compliance and consumer trust.
• Scaling sustainable pet nutrition: Allison Hamburger (director of sustainability and innovation at the Pet Sustainability Coalition) joins industry stakeholders to address alternative proteins, responsible sourcing, and cost realities.

Future drivers at the Innovation Hub

The Innovation Hub brings together research, procurement, regulatory, and marketing leads to examine the technologies and consumer behaviors driving global market shifts:

• Top 10 F&B Trends for 2027: Lu Ann Williams, Co-founder and president of Innova Market Insights, outlines the key consumer behaviours and market trends shaping R&D briefs for the coming year.
• Beyond Protein: Ina Dawer, head of ingredients at Euromonitor International, charts fast-scaling wellness platforms across food, beverages, supplements, and beauty.
• Lab-to-line scaling: specialised sessions trace scientific and technological breakthroughs moving from laboratory research to full-scale commercial manufacturing, alongside shifting retail platforms.

Supply chain resilience & networking

Formulation breakthroughs rely on stable global networks. Fi Europe 2026 puts operational stability and peer connection at the centre of its schedule:

• Supply chain spotlight: Day three hosts a focused track in the Innovation Hub on strengthening global sourcing networks to withstand systemic pressures and facilitate ambitious innovation.
• Targeted networking: dedicated interactive events include the Women’s Networking Breakfast, exploring career and leadership dynamics in F&B, and the Future of Nutrition Lunch & Learn for senior decision-makers.

The full agenda for Fi Europe 2026 is available here.