The Food and Drink Federation today (Friday) launched the Lifestyle and Dietary Trends Industry Group, bringing together key players in the increasingly important area of enhanced nutrition and so-called “functional” food.
“The move will establish FDF as the authoritative voice of this industry sector,” the federation said. This market grew by 523% from 1997-2003 and is worth over £1.2 bn (US$2.26bn) in the UK. UK food and drink manufacturers are developing an increasing range of products to meet consumers’ growing interest in diet and health and their changing lifestyle and dietary requirements.
“FDF has once again brought together manufacturers in an important and exciting growth area of the food industry,” said FDF director general, Sylvia Jay. “Consumers are increasingly interested in health benefits food and drink products can offer, and manufacturers have responded to that challenge by developing a market now worth over £1.2 billion.”
The new group will not only act as an essential forum for pan-sector discussion for manufacturers, but will enable FDF to serve its members better in this highly complex and fast developing regulatory, the federation said. It will keep members up to date with the latest consumer and market trends, share information on key research and product developments and host seminars to bring together stakeholders to promote wider industry discussion and debate about developments in the sector.
Membership of the group is open to all full FDF members with an interest in lifestyle and dietary trend developments. The group currently includes ten member companies and is chaired by Richard Ross, director of legislation and procedural affairs, nutritional healthcare R&D at GlaxoSmithKline.
Its member companies are Cadbury Schweppes Plc, Coca-Cola Great Britain and Ireland, Danone, GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare, Kerry Ingredients, Kraft Foods UK Ltd, Masterfoods, McNeil Nutritionals Ltd, Nestlé UK Ltd and Premier International Foods.
Related Companies
