“Growing young” symposium: the food industry's response to the needs of the senior population
17 October 2013 - 17 October 2013
Spain
The senior population, that is people over sixty, will become one of the most important market segments for the food industry. Becoming aware of their needs, preferences and sociological profile is essential to create new and customised food products and services that are fully adapted to the demands and sensory needs of seniors. To showcase the key characteristics of this new market, AZTI-Tecnalia and the Basque Culinary Center have organised the ‘Growing young’ symposium, which will be held on 17 October, at the gastronomic training facilities in Donostia-San Sebastián (Basque Culinary). The event will also feature partners such as AFCA (Asociación de Fabricantes y Comercializadores de Aditivos y Complementos Alimentarios - Association of Manufacturers and Marketers of Additives and Food Supplements).
This symposium will be an unparalleled opportunity for the food industry to obtain comprehensive insight of the senior population from the perspective of the adult and pre-senior population, who will be part of this market within two decades. This group will have different demands in terms of quality and enjoyment that the current senior population. The session will focus on the sociological context, applied gastronomy, trends and demands of this type of consumers, as well as their diet needs and specifications. The symposium, which will include a Show Cooking session, will also serve to learn about senior-focused food product prototypes, and functional food formulations that are attractive to seniors. Ingredients and additives will also be part of the programme and the new applications to food products for the elderly will be assessed.
The adaptation of foods to the older population implies developing new R&D&I efforts within the sector. Research needs and how to incorporate it into gastronomy, as well as the nutritional requirements of the senior population, will be other topics to be addressed.
A key meeting point for the sector
The session will become a key meeting point for food companies and a great opportunity to generate professional contacts and share experiences and opinions on business opportunities in this emerging sector. The symposium will gather Production, R&D and Marketing Directors of leading companies of the food sector, in addition to representatives of the ingredients and additives sector from Spain and the rest of Europe. Likewise, representatives of related industries, especially the hospitality sector, will be present at the event.
The meeting between AZTI-Tecnalia, BCC and AFCA will promote the generation of product lines designed to prevent and correct nutritional deficiencies of people during their ageing process. The goal is to provide perfectly adapted products, from the health point of view, which are tailored to meet the sociological and sensory characteristics of this population. In this sense, foods for the elderly should have a nutritional profile that is adapted to their specific needs, such as cardiovascular health, strengthening of the immune system, adequate protein levels or bone regeneration. They should also be easy to prepare, preserve and serve, while having appropriate packaging and labelling.
This symposium will be an unparalleled opportunity for the food industry to obtain comprehensive insight of the senior population from the perspective of the adult and pre-senior population, who will be part of this market within two decades. This group will have different demands in terms of quality and enjoyment that the current senior population. The session will focus on the sociological context, applied gastronomy, trends and demands of this type of consumers, as well as their diet needs and specifications. The symposium, which will include a Show Cooking session, will also serve to learn about senior-focused food product prototypes, and functional food formulations that are attractive to seniors. Ingredients and additives will also be part of the programme and the new applications to food products for the elderly will be assessed.
The adaptation of foods to the older population implies developing new R&D&I efforts within the sector. Research needs and how to incorporate it into gastronomy, as well as the nutritional requirements of the senior population, will be other topics to be addressed.
A key meeting point for the sector
The session will become a key meeting point for food companies and a great opportunity to generate professional contacts and share experiences and opinions on business opportunities in this emerging sector. The symposium will gather Production, R&D and Marketing Directors of leading companies of the food sector, in addition to representatives of the ingredients and additives sector from Spain and the rest of Europe. Likewise, representatives of related industries, especially the hospitality sector, will be present at the event.
The meeting between AZTI-Tecnalia, BCC and AFCA will promote the generation of product lines designed to prevent and correct nutritional deficiencies of people during their ageing process. The goal is to provide perfectly adapted products, from the health point of view, which are tailored to meet the sociological and sensory characteristics of this population. In this sense, foods for the elderly should have a nutritional profile that is adapted to their specific needs, such as cardiovascular health, strengthening of the immune system, adequate protein levels or bone regeneration. They should also be easy to prepare, preserve and serve, while having appropriate packaging and labelling.