As our final event of the 2018 calendar, Chicagoland Food & Beverage Network partnered with Mintel, a CFBN member and leading market intelligence agency here in Chicago, for an event for local start-up companies.  Hosted at their headquarters overlooking the river and across from the Merchandise Mart, the evening kicked off with a presentation by Mintel’s Director of Trends and Social Media Research, Gabrielle Lieberman and Director of Innovation and Insight, Lynn Dornblaser.  The deep dive, titled "How Consumer Trends Drive Product Innovation" explored the channel of health and good for you products, and how brands are rethinking plastic and packing - and the impact of both of these changes on the international products market.

Companies then broke out into round-table conversations with analysts exploring the following content areas:

• Using Packaging to Engage with Consumers

• Shifts in Consumer Interest in Plant-Based Food & Drink

• How On-Pack Product Positioning Statements Influence Consumers

• Flavor Trends in Foodservice

• Innovations in Beverages

• Shifts in Consumer Perceptions of “Better for You” Food & Drink

• Innovating for the i-Gen (ages 11-23):  Emerging Trends in Food Preferences

• Using Social Media to Connect with Consumers

The roundtable format, similar to a professional “speed dating” allowed companies to move amongst their five interest areas and have more in-depth, smaller group conversations about the content area.  Companies also had the opportunity to submit samples to Mintel’s Purchase Intelligence tool that provides comprehensive customer feedback on the submitted products.  The evening concluded with a bit of networking while Merchandise Mart’s light show played across the river for guests to enjoy.  

Thank you again to our member, Mintel, for hosting this great event - we are looking forward to additional collaborations in 2019!  And thank you to all of our members for your support and engagement at all of our 2018 events, stay tuned for more in the year ahead!