Insights addressing consumer trends and advice on food products gaining retail traction will be discussed at the 44th annual Australian Institute of Food Science & Technology convention, to be held 10-13 July, 2011, in Sydney.

The retail trends session will be chaired by Woolworths general manager health and wellbeing, Jenny Mowatt.

Ms Mowatt said a groundswell change in consumer awareness is requiring fundamental changes in product development, marketing and provision.

“The opportunity is now for all food developers, manufacturers and marketers to address the strengthening consumer trends,” she said.

“Health-oriented foods are no longer for just a niche market – mainstream shoppers are demanding them. The big volume trend is for healthy, edible, price-competitive foods.”

Addressing the implications of this issue from a food technologist/manufacturer’s perspective will be Unilever’s Michael Liddell.Birch & Waite food product general manager, Jeff Schultheiss will discuss the topic from a manufacturing business development perspective. Australian Food & Grocery Council’s policy and regulations director, Kim Leighton willl be looking at supplier implications from a regulations perspective.

The AIFST Convention is co-located with FoodPro at the Sydney Convention & Exhibition Centre, Darling Harbour.