Drink Tank conference to explore trends shaping the drinks industry landscape

William Reed, the food & drink publishing, events and intelligence business behind The Grocer, has announced Drink Tank, a new one-day event exploring the trends shaping the drinks industry landscape.

Taking place at 1 America Square, London on Tuesday 10 November, Drink Tank will bring together buyers, operators, retailers, wholesalers and suppliers from across the UK’s drinks industry.

The event agenda has been curated by editorial staff working across William Reed titles including The Grocer and The Morning Advertiser. It will feature debates, talks, fireside chats and presentations from genuine industry leaders and explore themes including health & wellness, moderation, product innovation, legislation & regulation, packaging and sustainability.

With health in particular continuing to shape the conversation around alcohol and soft drinks, Drink Tank will delve into how GLP-1 medication usage and moderation trends are impacting each of the major drinks categories, and how retailers, operators and suppliers can fine-tune their offer to meet evolving consumer need states.

Meanwhile, breakout sessions will introduce category specific insight from leading brands. They will discuss topics including how retailers and operators can tap into rapid growth of ready-to-drink cocktails, what the future of craft beer looks like, how wine can reinvent itself to win over younger drinkers, and whether functional soft drinks are a short-term fad or here to stay.

“The drinks industry has faced near-unprecedented turbulence since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, and brands, retailers and operators have had to be brave, smart, nimble and even a little bit lucky to survive in one piece,” said James Beeson, drinks editor at The Grocer. “Those that have are desperately seeking clarity about what the future is likely to look like; from how GLP-1 medication is likely to impact alcohol consumption, to how they can leverage emerging trends and ingredients like tequila and fibre to their advantage.

“Drink Tank has been designed to cut through the noise and deliver meaningful cross-channel and cross-category insight, helping brands, buying teams and decision-makers understand the forces that are transforming the sector, and how they can stay ahead of the curve.”