Just Drinks Presents: 14th Innovation in Non-Alcoholic Beverages 2025

Explore the latest trends and growth strategies in non-alcoholic beverages

24 - 25

September

2025
  • Hilton London Bankside
  • Ticketed
  • Why attend?
  • Agenda
  • Speakers
  • Plan Your Visit
  • Event Gallery
  • Sponsors
  • Media Centre
  • Contact Us

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Company Information

At Kerry, we’re shaping the future of the food and beverage industry by providing healthier, tastier, and more sustainable solutions for our customers and their consumers. We are constantly seeking to help our partners innovate and grow by finding smarter and better ways to tackle the challenges facing the global food industry. Our work uses the latest science and technology to lower costs and reduce waste while also improving taste and nutrition. For more information, visit www.kerry.com.

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Pitcher, the leading provider of Sales Enablement 2.0 solutions, enables commercial teams to sell more effectively by creating an engaging buying experience for their customers. Pitcher’s Selling Experience Platform slashes time required for preparation, follow-up, and admin tasks by applying AI to the full selling spectrum: pre-call planning, just-in-time training, dynamic pitch decks, digital sales rooms, real-time inventory/pricing/order management, content and data analytics, one-click meeting follow-up, and post-meeting next steps.
Pitcher works with global brands spanning 140 countries across the health & life sciences, consumer packaged goods, financial services, technologies, publishing, and industrial manufacturing.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - https://pitcher.com

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Synergy Flavours is a leading global innovator in flavourings, extracts and essences that enable food and beverage manufacturers to stay one step ahead of the competition.

With over 100 years of beverage development expertise, Synergy works collaboratively with customers delivering unparalleled results with unique tailored ingredients. Its new ‘Citrusology’ educational programme provides inspiration for manufacturers’ citrus product development projects.

In 2021 Synergy has launched new product ranges that cater to increased consumer interest in premiumisation and product transparency:

– The Italian Provenance citrus range draws on the 130-year heritage of Synergy’s Italian business to deliver signature flavours to products from beverages, to baked goods and dairy. The extracts include Calabrian lemon, Italian blood orange, and Sicilian lemon.

– ‘Inspiring Fruits’ is a collection of fruit essences, natural named flavours and depictable flavours for natural product positioning and versatility across applications. It includes pear, sour cherry, peach, strawberry, raspberry, blackcurrant.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - https://uk.synergytaste.com/

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Nactarome Ltd are a leading food manufacturing company developing high-quality natural flavourings and blended seasonings for the sweet, savoury and beverage markets. We specialise in providing authentic tastes and cost-effective solutions with unrivalled technical and NPD expertise. Our industry best lead-times and clean-label solutions mean we are a strong choice for all your ingredient challenges.

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The Mighty Shed is an independent cultural foresight, strategy and innovation partner. We use informed imagination to help clients achieve short-term wins that drive long-term growth in the alcohol, food, beverage and cannabis sectors.

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McCormick & Co is a global leader in flavour with over 6.5$ billion in sales, operating in the consumer & flavour solution segments across 170 countries. The company manufactures, markets and distributes spices, seasoning mixes, condiments and other flavourful products to retail outlets, food & beverage manufacturers and foodservice businesses.
The McGiotti EMEA flavour house, located in Italy, brings tasteful and innovative solutions building on 95 years of expertise in natural flavours, herbs and spices extracts.
Thanks to our strong knowledge of the citrus world, high value-added flavours and mastery in soft drink beverages, we can offer customers different types of flavours, extracts and semi-finished products to meet both regulatory requirements and consumer taste preferences in the various markets in which we operate.
Our global team of flavour research experts continuously uncover emerging trends to help you beat competition with the next big taste creation.
Let’s create the future of flavour together!

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - https://www.mccormickcorporation.com/

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Oasthouse have been servicing the British and European food and drinks market for over 20 years. Now supplying direct to can, digitally printed cans in aid of a more sustainable and packaging solution for all. A growing, independent business, built on family values, offering a personal and professional level of service to all.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - www.oasthouse-engineering.com

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Ransom Naturals Ltd (RNL) are one of Europe’s leading accredited developers and manufacturers of premium extracts with labelling advantage in the food & beverage market. RNL is well known for new product and process development and offers with complete customer solutions from conception to commercialisation, with and step-by-step regulatory technical support.

The key market trends driving innovation in the food and beverage industry continue to be provenance, clean label and naturally functional. Our botanical extracts are clean-label and deliver authentic flavour. The extracts are easy to incorporate into beverage applications, have provenance option available and can provide associated health benefits.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - https://ransomnaturals.com/

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Flavour Innovation, Crafted with Purpose

With over 30 years of experience, we are a globally recognised Flavour House, trusted by food and beverage brands around the world. We create bold, true-to-nature flavours that bring products to life—tailored to every market and consumers.

We are especially renowned for our expertise in vanilla extract and flavour development, offering a wide range of natural and synthetic profiles that deliver depth, authenticity, and consistency across applications. Our sweet flavour solutions are crafted with precision for the baking industry, enhancing everything from cakes and biscuits to fillings and frostings with rich, indulgent taste. We also offer premium citrus flavour profiles, known for their vibrant freshness, clarity, and exceptional quality across a variety of applications.

We offer complete flavour solutions, from liquid colour blending and powder flavour production to advanced encapsulation and spray-drying technology. Whether customers are looking for clean-label extracts, high-intensity flavourings, or trending taste profiles, we develop bespoke formulations designed to perform.

Our commitment to ethical sourcing and full traceability means every flavour we create is crafted with care—for people and the planet. As an active member of the UK Flavour Association, Campden BRI, Sedex, and IBVTA, we uphold the highest industry standards while delivering outstanding service and innovation.

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Beatson Clark, the UK’s only independently-owned glass manufacturer, offer the complete packaging solution for your bottle.
We design, manufacture and decorate glass packaging for premium and niche drinks brands worldwide.
Our sustainable glass contains on average, 60% recycled materials. In addition, our spray paint is water-based, organic and applied with a low waste technique.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - https://www.beatsonclark.co.uk/

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For over 110 years, Silesia has been inspiring beverage innovation with passion, creativity, and science.

We craft tailored flavour solutions that spark emotions and bring your drinks to life—from refreshingly fruity to bold and adventurous.

As your flavour partner, we help you create memorable taste experiences that excite and inspire consumers worldwide.

Be inspired by Silesia

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - https://www.silesia-aroma.com/en/

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Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - www.cytiva.com

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At Hillebrand Gori, we manage logistics for the global wine, beer and spirits industry, including the raw materials to craft them. With tailored solutions, we help to preserve quality during storage and transit, handling any quantity via any route. Strategically located worldwide, we’re committed to making logistics easy and sustainable.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - www.hillebrandgori.com

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Since 1930, Martin Bauer Group has stood for expertise in botanicals. Whether peppermint, hibiscus or mate, our products always come from responsible sources, high-quality botanicals that are processed using rigorous, certified methods.  We provide bespoke solutions to our customers from the tea, beverage, dairy, confectionary, bakery and cereal, and ice cream industries.

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - https://www.martin-bauer-group.com

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California Natural Color is a supplier of premium grape juice concentrates, natural colors, and grape seed extracts. Our patented crystal color technology has revolutionized the natural color industry, offering unique solutions for developers within the food, beverage, and nutraceutical industries. With a 5-year shelf life and an exceptionally high color concentration, our crystal colors offer superior stability and enables a clean label with zero calories in use. Our commitment to quality, product innovation, and customer solutions has made us a leader within the industry.

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Within the range of collagen proteins, GELITA supplies Bioactive Collagen Peptides (BCP®) with proven body-stimulating capabilities. In today’s landscape of highest consumer demands, manufacturers of food products, beverages and dietary supplements rely on natural, healthy, non-allergenic ingredients for their developments. Collagen proteins from GELITA fulfill all of these requirements.

BCP® enable manufacturers to add specific health aspects. GELITA has intensified its research in developing solutions for this important market segments: Physical mobility (FORTIGEL®), bone stability (FORTIBONE®), beauty from within solutions for nutricosmetics (VERISOL®), optimized body composition (BODYBALANCE®), strong ligaments and tendons (TENDOFORTE®) and finally improved endurance performance (PeptENDURE®).

Company Website

To learn more, please visit our website - https://www.gelita.com/en

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    Why attend?

    Trending Topics: Explore new, fresh and energising topics across key categories and trends in non-alcoholic beverages. This year’s Non-Alcoholic Beverages Conference will address key themes, including:

    • The future of key categories
    • Consumer preferences and demand
    • Additional ingredients and new flavours
    • Health benefits and sugar reduction
    • Packaging and sustainability
    • Sustainability initiatives
    • New categories like sparkling fermented tea & plant-based drinks

     

    Market Led Content: Take away exclusive insight through case studies, presentations, Q&As and panel discussions delivered by leading brands.

    High-level audience: Join influential leaders and high-level experts across the industry who have a focus on Innovation, Branding, Marketing and Commercial Development, and Sustainability.

    Access to new technologies: Meet with experts across sustainability solutions, packaging, labelling, artificial intelligence, ingredients and colouring, functional ingredients and nootropic ingredients.

    Networking opportunities: Meet, connect and network with the people that can transform your brand. Initiate powerful conversations with experts across the industry and discover future potential partnerships that will get your business ahead.

    What to expect for 2025

    150+

    Attendees to meet each year

    		15+

    Exhibitors to meet each year

    		30+

    Speakers

    		75%

    Attendees at Director+ level
    150+

    Attendees to meet each year

    		15+

    Exhibitors to meet each year
    30+

    Speakers

    		75%

    Attendees at Director+ level

    Testimonials

    Find out what you could be a part of:

    Agenda

    • 24 Sep 2025
    • 25 Sep 2025
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    Streams

    Stream one

    Stream A: Non-alcoholic Drinks

    Stream two

    Stream B: Non-alcoholic Beers and Spirits

    11:30 AM

    How low and no alcohol beers meet the needs of health-conscious consumers

    • Why both low and no alcohol beers is needed in the market
    • Understanding the mindset of the low and no alcohol consumer
    • Will consumers under the legal drinking age be able to drink no alcohol beers in the future?
    • Premiumisation – does consumer perception change when drinking low and no alcohol beers?

    12 PM

    Available for sponsorship

    Potential topic

    Innovation in glass packaging

    • Why glass packaging is better at communicating a premium product
    • Is glass packaging a sustainable product?
    • The potential for recycling glass packaging

    Enhancing the consumer experience through glass packaged premium products

    12:30 PM

    Working with on-trade to promote premium non-alcoholic drinks

    • How can brands work more effectively with on-trade partners to communicate the benefits and qualities of non-alcoholic spirits
    • Meeting the needs of consumers wanting non-alcoholic spirits
    • Educating the market on the premium qualities of non-alcoholic spirits

    1 PM

    Lunch and networking

    2 PM

    Available for sponsorship

    Potential topic

    Recycling in the closure industry

    • Transforming waste materials into new products and solutions
    • Creating new products that are environmentally friendly
    • End-of-life products: how bottle packaging can be reused in creative ways

    2:30 PM

    No, low, lower and now ‘mid’ – exactly what is the difference, do these descriptors matter and what’s next?

    • Where are we with the low alcohol descriptors? What are these and why shouldn’t we use them on soft drinks?
    • The importance of ‘lower’ options in the growth of low and no.
    • What is mid-strength? Is this the right time to introduce a new descriptor or is this just another way to say ‘lower’?
    • What’s next for the low and no sector?

    3 PM

    Available for sponsorship

    Potential topic

    Effective brand protection

    • Effective anti-counterfeiting solution can protect a brand and deliver value at the same time
    • Using AI technology to locate and raid counterfeited products in the market

    3:30 PM

    Afternoon refreshments and networking

    8:15 AM

    Registration and refreshments

    8:50 AM

    Chair’s opening remarks

    Senior representative, GlobalData

    9 AM

    The future of key categories – how are non-alcoholic beverages evolving

    • Reviewing which categories have performed the best
    • Analysing consumer demand for key categories
    • What is driving the shift in consumer preferences?
    • Future outlook - how will key categories evolve to meet consumer needs

    9:30 AM

    Available for sponsorship

    Potential topic

    Nutrition: meeting the needs of modern-day consumers

    • Understanding the nutritional requirements of today’s on-the-go consumers
    • What do consumers look for in a meal replacement drink?
    • What key health-related ingredients do consumers look for in drinks

    10 AM

    Keynote: ACTIPH Water

    10:30 AM

    Dragons’ Den: Innovation In Products And Services

    A highlight of the 2025 programme, a selection of companies will be invited to pitch their innovations to the industry. Companies will be carefully vetted to ensure they are recognized leaders with cutting-edge products and services. Delegates will benefit from learning about recent innovations at the forefront of the industry.

     

    Available for sponsorship: Each company will have the opportunity to deliver a one-minute pitch.

    11 AM

    Morning refreshments

    11:30 AM

    Innovations in the fruit juice category

    • How are low sugar juices performing?
    • Alternative products for the traditional consumer
    • Additional ingredients and potential health benefits
    • Latest trends in fruit juice flavourings
    • What consumers are looking for in this category

    12 PM

    Available for sponsorship

    Potential topic

    Colourings for beverages

    • Understanding how beverage selection is increasingly influenced by the colour
    • Make your beverages naturally attractive by using colours created entirely from fruits, vegetables and edible plants
    • Looking at recent applications in sparkling drinks, fruit juices, smoothies and water

    12:30 PM

    Case study: What’s new in energy drinks

    • Development of new flavours through new ingredients
    • Promoting health benefits – how to change the consumer mindset
    • The latest in zero sugar energy drinks
    • What new ingredients can we expect to see in future energy drinks

     

    1 PM

    Lunch and networking

    2 PM

    Available for sponsorship

    Potential topic

    Innovations in flavour and specialty ingredients

    • Exploring innovative new ingredients for non-alcoholic beverages
    • Unique and differentiating tastes and scents that delight consumers
    • What’s new in aroma chemicals
    • New natural botanical extracts
    • What’s new in flavours

    2:30 PM

    How soft drinks continuously innovate to appeal to consumers

    • Ensuring consumers stay engaged with your brand
    • How to reinvent a classic so that it continues to attract consumer’s attention
    • Introducing new packaging and flavourings to revitalise a product and brand
    • Leveraging your sustainability initiatives to promote a clean green image

    3 PM

    Available for sponsorship

    Potential topic

    Innovation in plant-based and all natural ingredients

    • What’s new in caffeine-free beverages
    • Replacing sugar with healthy natural sweeteners
    • The health benefits of plant-based ingredients

    3:30 PM

    Afternoon refreshments and networking

    4 PM

    Crafting non-alcoholic beverage excellence in the iconic Negroni birthplace

    • Increased consumer desire to drink non-alcoholic alternatives with sophisticated taste
    • Consumers generations mostly driving the trend
    • What is required to deliver against consumers’ need

    4:15 PM

    Case study: How sparkling tea is taking on ‘Champagne moments’

    • Introducing a relatively new category, a breakout product that has become phenomenally successful very quickly
    • Benefits of fermented tea
    • What makes Real Sparkling Fermented Tea unique
    • Understanding the consumers and trends driving demand for sparkling fermented tea

    4:45 PM

    Spotlight: Available for sponsorship

    5 PM

    The latest consumer trends and preferences in non-alcoholic beverages

    • Understanding the consumer mindset - Eastern Europe versus Western Europe
    • Consumer trends and preferences in the Middle East
    • Forecasted growth of low and non-alcoholic spirits, beers and RTD cocktails
    • Recent boom in plant-based drinks
    • How has the consumer purchasing habits evolved - on versus off trade?

    5:30 PM

    Chairman’s closing comments

    5:40 PM

    Drinks reception

    6:40 PM

    End of day one

    8:15 AM

    Registration and refreshments

    8:50 AM

    Chair’s opening remarks

    9 AM

    Keynote: Develop and Launch New Brands on a Shoestring

    • How soft-launch testing provides faster, deeper insights to drive brand growth
    • Why customer behavior sometimes contradicts stated preferences
    • How AI is transforming creative work and brand-customer fit

     

    Speakers

    Flemming Morth
    Head of New Drinks, Swinkels Family Brewers

    9:40 AM

    Available for sponsorship

    Potential topic

    Advancements in natural sweeteners - what flavours do consumers want?

    • Enhancing flavour in low/no alcoholic and sugar reduced beverages through: natural sweeteners, rare sugars, bulking agents, texturisers and organic acids
    • Using artificial and non-artificial low-calorie sweeteners
    • Recent developments in additives - additional ingredients that can enhance flavour and experience
    • What future innovations can we expect to see in sweeteners

    10:10 AM

    Case study: Tackling the sustainability challenge

    • Sustainability and recycling initiatives undertaken by leading brands
    • Ensuring a circular supply chain: how are brands recycling and reusing materials?
    • Understanding how a brands sustainability credentials influences consumer decision making
    • Meeting legal requirements in different markets and regions

    10:40 AM

    Morning refreshments and networking

    11:10 AM

    Speaker hosted roundtables

    Interactive roundtable sessions offer a unique opportunity to come together with your peers to share best practice and develop solutions to critical challenges facing the industry as a whole. Hosted by industry experts and each focused on a single issue, roundtables are an exciting, interactive way to build your personal network and learn from the experience and expertise of others.

    Each roundtable session lasts for 40 minutes and delegates may attend up to 2 roundtables.

    Available for sponsorship

    POTENTIAL TOPICS

    1. Stevia Innovation in Non-alcoholic Drinks  Explore the potential of plant-based stevia flavour modifiers, sweeteners and integrated solutions.  Learn how stevia delivers deep sugar reduction across product categories.
    1. Consumer Engagement Through New Digital Technologies Digital recognition technologies such as QR codes and NFC tags can be applied to reusable water bottles or glasses and used as powerful marketing and business management tools. By analysing consumption data, brands can benefit from greater efficiency in system management.
    1. Eco-Packaging Innovations Brands are switching to more sustainable and eco-friendly packaging to ensure they meet consumer demand for sustainable products. Innovation in low carbon packaging is key to helping brands lower their carbon footprint. Learn about the latest innovations in eco-packaging, the future of sustainable packaging and the technologies that are helping brands make a positive and definitive change to its carbon footprint.
    1. Blurred Lines In The Non-Alc. Space
    • The effect of social changes and changing consumer attitudes
    • Is alcohol now viewed as an ingredient?

     

    12:30 PM

    Lunch and networking

    1:30 PM

    Available for sponsorship

    Potential topic

    Ingredients for the rising functional beverage industry

    • How functional beverages offer convenient ways to support consumer lifestyle and wellness goals
    • Latest innovations in functional ingredients beverage formulations

    2 PM

    Case study: How a brand has successfully launched and scaled their business

    • Identifying commercial opportunities in a crowded market
    • Ensuring the brand heritage and key values are communicated in the new product
    • Analysing social occasions and customer experiences
    • Reviewing customer feedback and commercial success

    2:30 PM

    Available for sponsorship

    Potential topic

    Recent advancements in PET plastic bottles

    • Understanding the pros and cons: how does PET bottles meet your sustainability goals
    • Manufacturing PET bottles in an environmentally friendly way
    • Recycling PET bottles and how they are perceived by consumers

    3 PM

    Afternoon refreshments and networking

    3:30 PM

    Panel discussion: Crystal ball gazing – the future of state of mind drinks

    • Exploring consumer’s demand for state of mind drinks: Relax, Focus, Energy, Mood, Productivity
    • How functional drinks promote health
    • Latest developments in nootropics
    • The future of key ingredients: Caffeine, sugar, botanicals, CBD, BCAA amino acids and others
    • What is the future of CBD in drinks?

    4 PM

    Chairman’s closing comments

    4:10 PM

    End of conference

    Speakers

    Select a speaker to learn more

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    Steve Kearns
    Managing Director, Cawston Press

    Work

    1996-2006 - Unilever, Varying roles across Sales and Marketing

    2006-2010 - General Manager Rosslyn Park F.C. (Rugby Union)

    2010-2015 - Unilever, Asda followed by Out of Home Ice Cream Channel and Strategy Controller (Walls and Ben & Jerry’s)

    2015 to Present – Managing Director Cawston Press

     

    Loves

    Rugby, ice cream and apples!

    Family

    Happily married with 3 children

     

    Hobbies

    - Sport (any)

    - Spending time with family and friends

    - Long walks or cycle rides in the countryside

    - Experimenting in the garden

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    Flemming Morth
    Head of New Drinks, Swinkels Family Brewers

    Flemming Morth is Head of Center of Innovation at Royal Swinkels Family Brewers, known for its iconic brands like Bavaria 0.0, PALM, 8.6, Cornet and Habesha. He is responsible for building a strong innovation pipeline, improving time to market, fostering and commercializing new growth opportunities. He graduated from Aalborg University in Denmark with a Master’s degree in International Business. Flemming has successfully developed and launched innovations, new brands and new business models in various industries. He is passionate about rethinking marketing and innovation to help customers better achieve their goals.

    Session Details:

    Keynote: Develop and Launch New Brands on a Shoestring

    2025-09-25, 9:00 AM

    View In Agenda
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    David Begg
    Founder & CEO, The REAL Drinks Co.

    David founded The REAL Drinks Co. in 2016 to create high-quality non-alcoholic beverages. After two years of development, REAL launched a series of non-alcoholic sparklings that gained a following among top sommeliers in the UK and Europe and is now a leading brand in the no&lo sector. Following his success, David has expanded his focus to include the broader non-alc drinks category, working with partners to develop a range of fermented drinks.

    A manufacturing engineer by training, David spent ten years in strategy consulting, primarily with Bain & Co. He has been part of the founding team of disruptive start-ups like Active Hotels, Tom Dixon, Mindshapes, and Clippings.com. His passion for food, growing, regenerative food systems and sustainable health inspired his move into drinks and the creation of The REAL Drinks Co.

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    Kelly Moss
    Head of Compliance, The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA)

    As Head of Compliance at the WSTA Kelly deals with compliance and food regulatory matters. She leads on low and no which includes acting as secretariat to the WSTA’s Low and No Working Group, a group formed to support WSTA members in producing, labelling and promoting LoNo alcohol products in the UK. Kelly also acts as secretariat for the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group, The British Wine and Made Wine Producers Committee and the Direct-To-Consumer Committee. Her background is as a Trading Standards Officer, and she enjoyed running her own Food Labelling Consultancy business prior to joining the WSTA in 2017.

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    Plan Your Visit

    Venue

    Hilton London Bankside

    2-8 Great Suffolk St, London SE1 0UG

    Guests can make bookings at Hilton London Bankside for the nights of September the 23rd and 24th 2025. To secure a booking at our group's preferred rate, please click 'book your stay' below. The deadline to book your room is the 4th August 2025.

    Book Your Stay

    Sponsors

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    SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES

    Ben Gemmell

    Head of Consumer Portfolio

    +44 207 661 8841

    SPEAKER ENQUIRIES

    Alfred Mani

    Conference Producer

    +44 (0)20 4540 7582

    MARKETING ENQUIRIES

    Madelayne Goodall

    Marketing Manager

    SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES

    To enquire about sponsorship opportunities for the conference, please contact:

    Ben Gemmell

    Head of Consumer Portfolio


    +(44) 207 661 8841

    SPEAKER Enquiries

    To enquire about speaking opportunities for the conference, please contact:

    Alfred Mani

    Conference Producer


    +44 (0)20 4540 7582