The 2021 agenda will be announced soon. Join the mailing list to hear the latest updates!
Take a look at the 2020 agenda below, which included experts from Mintel, Imbibe, Flavorchem, Orchidia, RIFM, Lebermuth, IFRA, and Brightfield Group.
Amanda Topper, Associate Director of Foodservice Research, Mintel
Olivia Carlize joined Orchidia Fragrances, a division of Flavorchem, in 2018. As Marketing Manager, she derives insights from consumer and market data and works with perfumers to create fragrances that reflect the latest trends for a range of products, including air care and beauty. She is especially interested in helping brands make informed decisions when incorporating natural fragrance ingredients into products. Olivia’s passion for the sensory field took off while studying visual perception at the University of Pennsylvania.
Virginia Lee is the CBD Research Manager at Brightfield Group, the leading consumer insights and market intelligence firm for the CBD and cannabis industries. She helps CBD and consumer packaged goods companies with strategic planning by providing insights into consumer and industry trends, digital marketing, and new product developments. Virginia works closely with Brightfield’s analyst, data science, and business development teams to offer in-depth analysis on the US CBD market.
Before joining Brightfield, Virginia worked at Euromonitor International and Innova Market Insights, where she advised global companies on innovation and market entry opportunities in beauty & personal care, packaged foods, non-alcoholic drinks, and health & wellness.
Virginia loves sharing her passion for consumer trends and new products through speaking at trade shows including Cosmoprof (Brasil, North America), IDDBA’s Dairy-Deli-Bake, Natural Products Expo East, and United Fresh. Her research has been featured in BevNET, Food Business News, Food Navigator, Global Cosmetic Industry, New York Times, Wall Street Journal, and Women’s Wear Daily. Virginia has a B.A. in History from Dartmouth College. A native of South Korea, Virginia has also lived in Montreal, Canada, and now calls Chicago home.
Since joining Imbibe more than four years ago, Ilana Orlofsky has played an integral role in expanding the marketing initiatives of the boutique Chicago-based beverage development company. Her predilection for global cuisine and affinity for dynamic flavors, partly spurred by her love of travel, has helped fuel her passion for following market trends, developing product concepts with flavor pairings, and conducting ideation sessions. In addition to traveling all over the country and Canada to present to Imbibe’s customers, ranging from startups to billion-dollar brands, she has presented on consumer behavior and demand and beverage trends at several conferences, including Flavorcon and the National Restaurant Association Annual Show. Her trend insights and articles can be found across social media platforms and in several print and online publications, including Prepared Foods, Food Navigator, Beverage Industry, and SmartBrief. In her spare time, you may find her contributing Yelp reviews to maintain her elite status, practicing guitar, or researching her next travel destination. She has a B.A. from Washington University in St. Louis.
Amanda has more than a decade of market research experience spanning healthcare, travel, hospitality, food, and foodservice. In her current role as Associate Director of Foodservice Research she manages content for Mintel's foodservice Reports and Menu Insights. Amanda also authors Mintel’s annual Flavor & Ingredient Trends and Foodservice Trends.
Prior to joining Mintel, she worked at Edelman executing market research projects that fueled food, drink and foodservice PR campaigns using a variety of qualitative and quantitative methodologies.
Amanda’s expert insights have appeared in top outlets including The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal and leading trade publications. She is a frequent speaker at industry events including those hosted by the Culinary Institute of America, National Restaurant Association, Research Chefs Association and more.
Amanda’s passion for foodservice extends to her freelance writing for national publications as well as her personal restaurant review blog and popular Instagram account, @amandatopper.
Amanda holds a B.A. in Psychology, Sociology, and Business from Indiana University, and a Certificate in Principles of Marketing Research from the University of Georgia.
Melanie joined Mintel in 2017 as a global food analyst. She provides insights on global innovation and consumer trends across a number of food categories, including produce, pasta and grains. At Mintel, Melanie co-created the annual US Flavor and Ingredient Trends, which spotlight the cuisine types and ingredients that are growing on restaurant menus and on grocery shelves.
Melanie is passionate about sharing her knowledge of the industry. She has presented at conferences and trade shows around the globe and appeared in such publications as the Chicago Tribune, NPR and The BBC. She is also a regular contributor to Mintel’s blog and Little Conversation podcast.
Prior to joining Mintel, Melanie reported on industry news and trends for the Institute of Food Technologists, where she created a new monthly column devoted to product development innovation.
Melanie holds a BS in journalism from Northwestern University. In her spare time, she loves to share what she’s eating at home in Chicago or while traveling the globe on her Instagram, @melanietastestheworld.
Jill Costa has been with Lebermuth for the last four years as a Chief Perfumer. Prior to this, Jill practiced perfumery at fragrance houses in the U.S., Mexico, and the Netherlands with successes in Household, Air Care, and Personal Care product segments. She has also worked in Product Development in Consumer Product companies in both the Laundry and Air Care areas. She holds a PhD in Chemistry from The Ohio State University.
Scott Jaynes is an R&D Applications Manager at Croda, Inc. in Edison, New Jersey, where he is responsible for new product development and technical service for household and I&I cleaning markets in North America. Prior to joining Croda, Scott held R&D positions at BASF, Ciba Specialty Chemicals, and Unilever. He received a Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a Bachelor of Arts in Chemistry from Dartmouth College.
Danielle Botelho, PhD is responsible for the RIFM safety assessment process and leading her team to build universal acceptance and trust in the safe use of fragrance materials through applied science and research. She received her PhD in Toxicology from Rutgers University. She has over 12 years of research experience specializing in nanotoxicology and pulmonary studies relating to molecular and physiological endpoints. She is passionate about communicating science and safety to a global audience.
Lauren has a strong research background, and since joining Mintel in 2014, she has worked with nearly all major beauty brands and companies. She utilizes her expertise to help develop innovative product concepts, understand the landscape of the beauty categories, and to apply relevant industry trends.