Virgo Publishing Announces Speakers, Sessions & Sponsors for Focus on the Future

PHOENIXVirgo Publishing announced details of the seventh annual Focus on the Future Trends & Strategy Forum, set for Feb. 16 to 19, 2010, in Scottsdale, Ariz., at the Hyatt Regency Scottsdale Resort and Spa at Gainey Ranch. The event draws executives from leading dietary supplement, food and beverage companies for a high-level education program and exclusive networking opportunities.

In this economy, business leaders need market research and consumer data to guide their decision making, and this event gives you those insights at a time when strategy and leadership are more critical than ever, said Peggy Jackson, Vice President, Health and Nutrition Division, Virgo Publishing. "Weve assembled an education program featuring leading market and consumer research firms. No other industry event offers this amount of market research and data in one location."

A welcome reception sponsored by National Enzyme Company kicks off the event on Tuesday, Feb. 16.  Participants will attend a dinner and the Focus on the Future Vanguard and Humanitarian awards presentation, sponsored by Capsugel. After dinner, attendees will participate in an evening of casino-style games.

The education program, co-sponsored by Lesaffre Human Care and Proprietary Nutritionals, runs Feb. 17 and 18 from 8:30am to 4pm. Sessions will address the future of the dietary supplement and healthy food and beverage industries in several key areas. 

Education speakers and topics include:

- U.S. Anti-Doping Agency CEO Travis T. Tygart, and Natural Products Association Vice President, scientific and regulatory affairs, Daniel Fabricant, Ph.D., will discuss USADAs Supplement Safety Now campaign, safe supplements and athletic performance. Tygart recently announced the campaign seeking changes to the way supplements are regulated at a press conference with representatives from the National Football League and Major League Baseball.

-Patrick F. OLoughlin from The Clorox Company will discuss their Open Innovation Network and what the future of innovation looks like. Clorox owns leading brands such as Burts Bees, Hidden Valley Ranch, and KC Masterpiece, in addition to its namesake line of disinfectants.

-Dr. Jay Golden, Co-Director of the Sustainability Consortium, will discuss this global initiative that was started with funding from Walmart and now includes major support from P&G, Unilever, Cargill, Dell, Disney, Pepsi, Waste Management and many other leading companies.

-Natural Marketing Institutes Steven French will reveal new findings from NMIs Health and Wellness Trends Database®and Supplement, OTC, Rx consumer insights surveys.

-Svetlana Uduslivaia from Euromonitor will discuss supplements, functional foods and beverages and naturally healthy products as competing trends.

-Packaged Facts' David Sprinkle will reveal primary consumer data framed within the Center for Culinary Developments proprietary Trend Map tracing ingredients from earliest appearance to full incorporation into mainstream packaged foods.

-Elizabeth Sloan from Sloan Trends Inc. will expose eight of the hottest emerging and evolving trends, targets and market directions functional foods and supplements that will provide key opportunities in the next year.

-Lynn Dornblaser from Mintel will discuss functional ingredients and market trends that have jumped from foods to supplements or vice versa, and what this means.

-The Hartman Group's Melissa Abbott will discuss food fatigue and the emergence of new and exciting flavor and product experiences, why consumers make the choices they do, and how todays products are being reimagined.

- Lori Colman, CEO of Colman Brohan Davis will discuss their newest research on what is most important to consumers when buying foods or supplements, matching these criteria to online conversation streams that are often at odds with manufacturer messaging and industry campaigns.

- Datamonitor's Tom Vierhile will focus on the emerging opportunity for marketers of functional foods, beverages and supplements positioned to help consumers be happier, calmer, livelier and more mentally fit, including recent product innovations.

In addition to the education program, many networking opportunities give participants a chance to continue conversations and establish relationships. The registration package includes the following:

Tuesday, Feb. 16
-Welcome Reception, sponsored by National Enzyme Company
-Dinner and Awards Presentation, sponsored by Capsugel
-Casino Night

Wednesday, Feb. 17
-Continental breakfast, sponsored by HerbaKraft Inc.
-Session break, sponsored by Albion Human Nutrition
-Luncheon, sponsored by Lonza
-Happy hour, sponsored by Roxlor International

Thursday, Feb. 18
-Continental breakfast
-Session break
-Luncheon
-Happy Hour, sponsored by Cepham Inc.
-VIP reverse happy hour at the Scottsdale W Resorts Shade Lounge

Friday, Feb. 19
-Breakfast

Average temperatures in Scottsdale in February are in the 60s and the winter is the peak tourist season, drawing people for golfing, hiking, shopping, spas and special events. Special discounts are available for significant others.

More information about Focus on the Future 2010 is available at FocusOnTheFuture.net, or by calling Virgo Publishing at (480) 990-1101.

Virgo Publishing produces the SupplySide Trade Shows and Conferences, the Focus on the Future Conference & Expo, the online training Web site nutrilearn.com; and Natural Products INSIDER, Food Product Design, InsideCosmeceuticals.com and Natural Products Marketplace. Virgo Publishing also publishes CULINOLOGY® for the Research Chefs Association.