The gateway to Retail and Foodservice in Central and Eastern Europe. Connect with new business opportunities among buyers at rapidly growing Retail, Imports, Foodservice. Vienna’s strategic location offers close food business connections with potential customers based in Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Slovenia, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, Croatia, and Hungary.
Session titles:
1) Vegan sales crossroad. Outlook on consumer behavioral changes and opportunities for future growth
2) Sustainable Food Choices for a Healthier and Greener Future
Session descriptions:
1) Plant-based and vegan product sales have hit a plateau creating a challenging environment for market players. While dairy alternatives have fortified their positions in shopper’s baskets, meat and seafood substitutes are struggling to gain ground. While sustainable shopping continues to be important for consumers, it is not the only motivation in choosing vegan or plant-based products. Consumer behavior and preferences have been shifting both due to inflation and ingredient scrutiny. It is no longer enough to say a product contains no animal products – consumers are looking for health benefits, clear ingredient and manufacturing practice communication as well as other features they increasingly find important. Opportunities still are present for growth but perspective shift is necessary to maximize potential.
2) As consumers are looking for a more sustainable lifestyle, they also connect sustainability with a healthier nutrition. From plant-based to natural and organic - consumers have their own understanding of what is "sustainable" and what is good for them. Yet, consumers are increasingly facing greenwashing attempts, high inflation and lower quality ingredients. This erodes consumer trust - which is very much needed as more brands struggle to communicate their sustainability efforts effectively. Therefore, this presentation will look at how consumers define a sustainable diet and how consumer expectations keep changing, also in the light of changing regulatory frameworks and the increasing competition between brands to win back consumers' trust.
Date and time of the EMI sessions:
1) 17 June 2025, 12:00–12:30 CET and 18 June 2025, 11:30–12:00 CET
2) 17 June 2025, 12:30–13:00 CET and 18 June 2025, 12:30–13:00 CET
Name and title of all speakers involved:
1) Rasa Vaiciuniene, Consultant
2) Linda Lichtmess, Consultant
Register HERE.
