Ahead of Vitafoods Europe 2026, we asked Julia to share the latest trends and insights in the food ingredients space, watch the video below to learn more.
Julia:
“Like many other industries, you’re likely feeling pressure from all sides in the food ingredients space. And across our work with clients, one thing is clear: no challenge stands alone.
Geopolitical dynamics and currency volatility continue to impact sourcing, cost structures, and reported performance.
Growth is returning, but increasingly volume-led, putting pressure on margins
To protect margins, cost discipline and operational efficiency are becoming structural capabilities
End-market softness in core food categories is reshaping portfolios, while higher-growth segments like health, beauty, and biosolutions gain importance.
Innovation priorities are evolving, from breakthrough to renovation, functional benefits, and claims-driven differentiation.
Customization is accelerating, as companies shift from global to more regional and local offerings, increasing fragmentation and putting pressure on manufacturing and planning.
Meanwhile, product cycles are accelerating, and speed-to-market and differentiated launches have become table stakes.
These dynamics reinforce one another. For leaders, clarity comes from understanding the full landscape, not just the project at hand.
At a‑connect, we bring together three strengths:
Deep cross‑industry experience and pattern recognition, grounded in real project work and hands‑on industry know‑how.
A multi‑layered view on context, linking geopolitics, customer trends, competitor moves, and operational realities.
An independent consulting model, so we bring exactly the expertise you need, practical solutions tailored to your environment, not off‑the‑shelf answers.
Whether your challenge is short‑term resilience or long‑term transformation, we work with you to turn strategy on paper into results in reality.”
