FMCG Gurus insights group returns to the World Confectionery Conference
Will Cowling, of FMCG Gurus, speaking at last year's World Confectionery Conference. Pic: Cedric Puisney
UK-based insights group FMCG Gurus has revealed that its senior research division director Mike Hughes is set to speak at this year’s World Confectionery Conference, offering some valuable market insights for our event, as it enters its third edition, writes Neill Barston.
Our plans for the latest edition of the show to be held on 5 October at the Harrogate Convention Centre are fast taking shape, with a host of key businesses set to play their part in proceedings as we shine a light on some of the most prominent developments across the sector.
Businesses and organisations we have confirmed so far from the event include a broad cross-section of the industry, including Ferrero, Cargill, Caobisco, GNT, Fairtrade International, Cama Group, Baker Perkins and Royal Duyvis Wiener, who will all form part of proceedings for our main conference day. We are also hosting an optional second day on 6 October in York, which will offer the chance to experience chocolate making, courtesy of York Cocoa House, which will also be appearing on our first day’s conference schedule.
As previously reported, this weekend is the final early bird offer rate for show visitors (tickets being £160 rather than £190 from 1 May), so make sure that you don’t miss out on being part of our centrepiece event of the year, which also includes our World Confectionery Awards.
The latest speaker to be confirmed, Mike Hughes (pictured below), has over 15 years’ of experience analysing consumer trends, attitudes, and behaviours and currently heads up the research and insight division at FMCG Gurus. He has a particular interest in highlighting how consumer attitudes and behaviours can often differ and what the true meaning of trends are for the industry.
Welcoming him to the conference, Confectionery Production magazine editor, Neill Barston, said: “It’s great to have Mike on board to provide some key insights for our World Confectionery Conference taking place this October in the UK. I am sure he will build upon the excellent analysis which his colleague Will Cowling provided for us at our event last year, with an educational and market intelligence element to the event being an important aim with our conference.
“As with any event, its success really does depend on the engagement of our readership, so there’s been an encouraging response to this year’s show so far – but please do keep those registrations coming, including making the most of our reduced early entry prices by the early bird cut-off point of this weekend (30 April), as we believe the show offers an excellent opportunity to learn about key developments in the industry, and network with peers from around the world, which the industry has been near-unanimous in believing that’s best done in a live event setting such as this.”