Food Matters Live Rotterdam

Food Matters Live Rotterdam is an international B2B event for the food, beverage and nutraceutical industries, open exclusively to trade professionals. Its central focus is on how emerging scientific insights, innovative ingredients and technologies, and changing consumer needs can be translated into commercially viable food and beverage products and nutrition concepts. The event is particularly aimed at professionals working directly in product development, formulation, nutrition and innovation.

The two-day event takes place once a year, usually in September, at the Rotterdam Ahoy Convention Centre. It is organised by Food Matters Live Ltd. London is also part of the Food Matters Live event programme, with annual editions held in both the UK and the Netherlands, creating an international event series for Europe’s food and nutrition community.

Food Matters Live focuses on the future of product development across the food and nutrition industries. Key themes include emerging food and consumer trends, positive nutrition and functional foods, metabolic health, the microbiome and gut health, women’s health, personalised nutrition, dietary fibre, and new and alternative protein sources. Other areas of focus include innovative flavour and colour solutions, clean label, sensory science, sustainable and functional ingredients, reformulation, upcycling, whole-food ingredients and emerging technologies such as precision fermentation. New product development (NPD) is another major theme, covering areas such as novel formulation approaches, sustainable ingredient solutions and AI-powered tools for product development. The programme addresses practical challenges faced by food manufacturers when developing new products, including balancing health and indulgence, reducing sugar, creating clean-label products, and improving taste, texture and nutritional value.

The range of products and solutions presented at the event reflects this broad scope. Exhibits include functional and natural ingredients, proteins, dietary fibres, flavours and colours, sugar- and salt-reduction solutions, clean-label concepts, and ingredients for functional foods and dietary supplements. Ingredients and technologies for bakery products, beverages, dairy products, desserts, snacks and alternative-protein products are also showcased. The offering is complemented by analytical, product development and technology solutions, as well as services covering product development, quality, sensory science and innovation.

One of the distinctive features of Food Matters Live is its emphasis on interactive formats. As part of “Tastes of Better”, international ingredient specialists showcase their solutions in one-hour sessions. These give trade visitors the opportunity not only to discover new ingredients but also to taste them in real product applications and discuss their properties and potential uses directly with technical experts.

Exhibitors primarily include ingredient manufacturers and suppliers, food-tech and technology companies, specialists in flavours, colours, proteins and functional ingredients, and providers of product development, analytical and business services. Visitors mainly come from food and nutraceutical brands, food manufacturing, retail, quick-service restaurants and the wider foodservice sector. The event is particularly relevant to professionals and decision-makers working in research and development (R&D), new product development (NPD), nutrition, innovation, quality control, product and brand marketing, and ingredient procurement. Admission is restricted to industry professionals.

The event is held at Rotterdam Ahoy, Ahoyweg 10, 3084 BA Rotterdam, south of the city centre. The venue is easily accessible both by car via the A15 motorway and by public transport. Rotterdam Ahoy is approximately a five-minute walk from Zuidplein metro and bus station, while the journey by metro from central Rotterdam or Rotterdam Centraal railway station takes around ten minutes.

The Food Matters Live will take place on 2 days from Tuesday, 21. September to Wednesday, 22. September 2027 in Rotterdam.