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Over 80 delegates came to Peterborough to a conference discussing New Product Development in the food sector.

The conference, organised by leading food law specialist Roythornes Solicitors brought together experts from the sector who told an audience of food business owners and directors how to manage the development process from ‘Kitchen concept to supermarket shelf’.

Speakers included Rob Kedzlie of NPD Direct, who talked about the development and innovation process; Michael Bennett of Pelican Communications  who covered social media marketing and Graham Childs of Childs Design and The Artisan Food trail who covered food branding and packaging.  The other speakers were Roythornes’ Peter Bennett covering legal issues; Supply Chain Manager from Lincolnshire Co-op Nicola Berry, and Claire Martinsen, who founded Breckland Orchard – an award winning cordial and squash producer.

Delegates came from across the UK and included a wide variety of producers and industry consultants. Speaking about the conference, Roythornes Marketing Manager Mark Dodds said:

“This was our first food conference and we were delighted with the event.  To attract people from as far afield as London, Wigan and Ludlow showed that there is a real appetite for information.”

“We had delegates from all stages in their business from start-up businesses who were considering concepts through to producers who have their products on the shelves of many of the high street supermarkets.”

Roythornes Peter Bennett went on to say that new product development is a key issue for the food sector.

“The pace of change in the food sector means that companies always need to be looking towards their next innovation, no matter what their size.  Add to this the drive to healthier choices, lower salt and sugar and more interest in the source of food and you have a really active market than needs to respond quickly.”

Talking about why the conference was held in Peterborough he said:

“The Peterborough region is a centre of food production and people would be amazed at the amount of food that is produced here from speciality coffee to breakfast cereals and artisan producers.”

Roythornes will be running another food conference in 2015.