The event program highlights a shift toward more holistic, science-led solutions, with gut health emerging as the foundation of whole-body wellness and ‘longevity’ evolving into ‘healthspan’. At the same time, GLP-1 medications are reshaping product development, while growing demand for cognitive support, everyday performance nutrition and beauty-from-within solutions is driving innovation across the sector.
Gut health as the foundation of wellness
Gut health continues to expand far beyond digestion, positioning itself as the central pillar of total-body wellness, according to sessions at the Vitafoods Conference Theatre (5A6).
Emma Schofield, associate director of global food science at Mintel will host a session titled ‘Gut health: From digestion to total wellness’ on Tuesday, May 5, at 10:30 a.m.. She will highlight how brands are actively connecting gut function to immunity, cognition, and even product development pipelines.
Urbi Pathak, senior research associate at Lux Research, Kara Siedman, VP of science and partnerships at Resbiotic Nutrition, Inc., and Bruno Pot, science director at Yakult Europe, will join a panel discussion on May 6, at 1:30 p.m, to discuss NPD opportunities driven by gut connections.
Another panel discussion focusing on the gut, muscle and brain trifecta will be hosted at 3:36 p.m. This will include speakers: Richard Siow, director of aging research at King’s College London; Rafael De Cid, scientific director at Genomes for Life at IGTP; Lynne Corner, deputy director of the UK National Innovation Centre for Ageing; and Jerome Feige, adult health science lead and musculoskeletal health senior expert at Nestlé Research.
Longevity and healthspan
The industry is moving decisively from lifespan to healthspan, focusing on how consumers can live better for longer, and it is clear that science-backed positioning and clear consumer value are becoming essential to stand out in an increasingly crowded longevity space.
At the Vitafoods Insights Theatre (6H2), Ina Dawer, head of ingredients at Euromonitor International, will present on the longevity ingredient opportunity and how to ‘separate signals from noise’ on May 5, at 12:05 p.m.
Furthermore, Elizabeth Thundow, VP of food and nutrition at Kline + Company, will talk about how lifespan has evolved into healthspan, mapping ingredients, benefits, and formats in longevity nutrition in a talk at 2:40 p.m. on May 6, 2026, at the Vitafoods Conference Theatre (5A6).
The GLP-1 effect
The rise of GLP-1 medications is actively disrupting traditional nutrition models and companies are rapidly adapting to consumers with reduced appetite by designing nutrient-dense, targeted solutions that meet essential nutritional needs in smaller formats.
On May 7, at 10:30 a.m. Sophia Cornelius, specialised nutrition analyst from Mintel, will present at the Vitafoods Conference Theatre on what this means for the future of weight management and what nutrition innovation can mean in a GLP-1 era.
Furthermore, David Gray, head of healthcare brand strategy at IQVIA Consumer Health, will discuss how to meet the nutritional demands of the GLP-1 consumer when appetite disappears, on May 6, at 11:30 a.m. at the Nutraceuticals Showcase Theatre (4A2).
Cognitive health, sleep and mental resilience
Brain health is becoming a lifecycle priority, with industry leaders developing solutions that support cognition from early life through to old age, and addressing sleep and recovery as critical components of mental resilience. Talks at the Vitafoods Conference Theatre will highlight this trend.
In a panel discussion on the importance of sleep, Adrian Lopresti from Clinical Research Australia, Mohammed Gulrez Zariwala, director of Centre for Nutraceuticals and Mark Wetherell, professor of psychobiology at Northumbria University, will discuss supporting rest and recovery for cognitive resilience. This will take place on May 5, at 3:30 p.m.
To talk about brain health across the life course, Suria Darley, global head of product development and Sophie Putnam, head of science at Holland & Barrett will discuss nutrient gaps, lifestyle levers, and next-gen cognitive ingredients. This will take place on May 5 at 4:40 p.m.
Performance nutrition evolves beyond athletes
As sports nutrition expands into everyday health, there is an increasingly stronger focus on recovery, endurance and functional performance for all consumers. This means carbohydrates are being reframed more positively and female-specific performance nutrition gaining overdue attention, according to talks at the Vitafoods Conference Theatre.
In a panel discussion on May 5, at 1:00 p.m, Susan Kleiner from High Performance Nutrition LLC, Nick Morgan of Nutrition Integrated, and Alex Glover from Holland & Barrett, will discuss developments in the sports nutrition space, exploring ingredients supporting performance, endurance, and recovery. Kleiner will also present on the return of carbohydrates and their importance on May 6, at 12:35 p.m.
Furthermore, women’s health dietitian Linia Patel will present on ‘The female performance blueprint’ and why muscle, bone and brain nutrition must work together on May 6, at 4:45 p.m.
Beauty-from-within and nutricosmetics
Vitafoods Insights Theatre will deliver talks focused on Nutricosmetics continuing to gain momentum as consumers actively seek ingestible solutions for skin, hair, and overall appearance.
Discussing market opportunities for nutricosmetics, Mike Hughes, head of research and insight at FMCG Gurus, will present on how brands can lead with credibility as consumers face rising barriers to skin health maintenance on May 7, AT 10:30 a.m.
And in a panel discussion on format innovation in nutricosmetics, speakers Melissa Snover, CEO of Rem3dy Health Limited, Henrik Geertz-Hansen, chief of development at 21st.BIO, and David Hjalmarsson, managing director of The Good Pill Co., will cover developing delivery systems for enhanced consumer experience. This will take place on May 7, at 12:05 p.m.
