Retail: From Strategists to Strategies to New Food

As the primary touchpoint between consumers and food, grocery retailers shape the way we discover, explore, and adopt new products. When it comes to alternative proteins, their influence is game-changing: retailers are not only stocking these products—they’re developing them in-house and shaping how we perceive them on the shelf. Take Lidl in Germany or Dutch retailers, for example. With bold moves to promote plant-based categories, they’re setting new standards for the protein shift and plant-based innovation. Ready for a deep dive into how grocery retail is driving the future of food? Let’s unpack some key questions together: Does plant-based price parity in retail promote product accessibility, or does it come at the expense of product quality? Can private labels actually raise the bar for product quality? Are private labels and established brands competing or complementing each other? What strategies are leading retailers using to position alternative proteins for the mainstream? Why is it important to spotlight alternatives, as will be done at the Anuga Alternatives trade fair? What role do product innovations from startups play? How important are startup programs from retailers, startup spaces, or competitions at trade fairs for plant-based food innovation? Join us as we explore the critical role of retail in shaping the next era of protein.