UK Soft Drinks Conference 2025
Event Programme
For over 20 years, FoodBev's annual UK Soft Drinks Conference has brought together senior industry producers, suppliers, retailers, innovators, opinion formers and advisers to provide the fullest possible one day overview of the latest developments, issues and opportunities alongside extensive networking. Held in association with British Soft Drinks Association.
Discover this years speakers
Tuesday
9:00 am
UK MARKET OVERVIEW
2024 review, 2025 outlook and key issues
William Watkins, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Radnor Hills, President of British Soft Drinks Association
9:15 am
UK MARKET OVERVIEW
Economic, retail and consumer developments and opportunities
Richard Lee, Business Unit Director - Drinks at Kantar
9:30 am
UK MARKET OVERVIEW
Panel discussion
joined by Lauren Tredgett, Category Buying Manager – Soft Drinks for Tesco
9:50 am
INNOVATING FOR GROWTH
New perspectives on sustainability innovation
Nicola Tongue, Associate Director – Ventures for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
10:05 am
INNOVATING FOR GROWTH
Developing products and brands for the next generation
Mike Harding, General Manager GB&I – Franchise Beverages for PepsiCo UK
10:20 am
INNOVATING FOR GROWTH
Panel discussion
joined by Olivia Ferdi, Co-founder of TRIP
10:40 am
SPONSOR
Sponsor presentation: Palette of persuasion – how colour influences beverage choice
Emma Fielding, Marketing Communications Specialist at EXBERRY
10:50 am
BREAK
Refreshment and networking break
11:20 am
ACCELERATING GROWTH
Keynote address: Disrupting, incubating and accelerating
Danny Stepper, Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of LA Libations and Globestepper Productions, United States
11:35 am
ACCELERATING GROWTH
Questions and discussion joined by
Dino Sarti, Co-founder of L.A. Libations and Chief Executive Officer of L.A. Aloe, United States
11:45 am
IMPROVING SUSTAINABILITY
Implementing a full package of environmental responsibility
Emma Bourne, Director of Resources and Waste at Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (DEFRA)
0:00 pm
IMPROVING SUSTAINABILITY
Lessons from DRS implementation in Ireland
Ciaran Foley, Chief Executive Officer of Re-turn, Ireland
0:15 pm
IMPROVING SUSTAINABILITY
Planning for DRS implementation in England
Julian Hunt, Vice President – Public Affairs, Communications and Sustainability – GB and Northern Europe for Coca-Cola Europacific Partners
0:30 pm
IMPROVING SUSTAINABILITY
Panel discussion
joined by Peverel Manners, Managing Director of Belvoir Farm
0:50 pm
SPONSOR
Sponsor presentation: Circular CO2 in beverage production
Camille Hanna, Vice President of Carbon Solutions Sales (Global) for Skytree
1:00 pm
BREAK
Lunch and networking
1:50 pm
SPONSOR
Sponsor presentation: Packaging innovation for consumer impact
Semih Tilfarlioglu, Technical Director for Köksan PET Packaging Industry Co
2:00 pm
KEY CATEGORY INNOVATION
Delivering category-powered innovation and in-market activation
Sam Lush, Category and Shopper Strategy Director for Carlsberg Britvic
Noel Dickson, Managing Director of Aqua Libra Co for Carlsberg Britvic
2:10 pm
KEY CATEGORY INNOVATION
Juicy strategy for renewed momentum
John Taylor, General Manager UK & Ireland for Innocent Drinks
2:20 pm
KEY CATEGORY INNOVATION
Plain water – anything but plain
Terri Cooper, Sales & Marketing Director for Roxane UK
2:30 pm
KEY CATEGORY INNOVATION
Questions and discussion
2:45 pm
DYNAMIC EMERGING SEGMENTS
Extra strength for clean energy
Huib van Bockel, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Tenzing
2:55 pm
DYNAMIC EMERGING SEGMENTS
Gaining acceptance for CBD benefits
Eoin Keenan, Chief Executive Officer of Goodrays
3:05 pm
DYNAMIC EMERGING SEGMENTS
Gut friendly sodas and kombuchas
Freya Twigden, Founder of Fibeand Fix8
3:15 pm
DYNAMIC EMERGING SEGMENTS
Adult Non-Alc: blurring the lines of drinking occasions
Luke Boase, Founder of Lucky Saint
Emma Heal, Managing Director of Lucky Saint
3:25 pm
DYNAMIC EMERGING SEGMENTS
Panel discussion
3:45 pm
BREAK
Refreshment and networking break
4:15 pm
INNOVATOR FORUM
Female focused functionality
Chrysi Philalithes, Acting Chief Executive Officer of G Spot
4:25 pm
INNOVATOR FORUM
Nootropics for brain energy
Paul Coppin, Marketing Director for Nutrabolt
4:35 pm
INNOVATOR FORUM
Boosting mind and body with Lion’s Mane
Matt Martin, Managing Director of MUUSH
Dan D’Souza, Finance and Marketing Director of MUUSH
4:45 pm
INNOVATOR FORUM
Questions and discussion
5:00 pm
2025 UK SOFT DRINKS AWARDS
Presentation of 2025 UK Soft Drinks Awards winners
5:20 pm
NETWORKING
Networking drinks reception
6:00 pm
2025 UK SOFT DRINKS AWARDS
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