Just Drinks Presents: 14th Innovation in Non-Alcoholic Beverages 2025

Explore the latest trends and growth strategies in non-alcoholic beverages

24 - 25

September

2025
  • Hilton London Bankside
  • Ticketed
  • Why attend?
  • Agenda
  • Speakers
  • Plan Your Visit
  • Event Gallery
  • Sponsors
  • Media Centre
  • Contact Us

Why attend?

What to expect for 2025

150+

Attendees to meet each year

15+

Exhibitors to meet each year

30+

Speakers

75%

Attendees at Director+ level

150+

Attendees to meet each year

15+

Exhibitors to meet each year

30+

Speakers

75%

Attendees at Director+ level

Find out what you could be a part of:

Agenda

  • 24 Sep 2025
  • 25 Sep 2025
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8:15 AM

Registration and refreshments

8:50 AM

Chair’s opening remarks

Speakers

Mark Dempsey
Senior Consulting Director –Consumer, GlobalData

9 AM

Opening Keynote: NextGen Non-alcoholic Beverages

  • Unpack the forces reshaping non-alcoholic beverages – from health to climate to culture
  • Explore how next-gen ingredients are unlocking new possibilities for innovation
  • Understand where consumer expectations are heading – and how to stay ahead

9:30 AM

Available for sponsorship

10 AM

Keynote – Beyond Hydration: How An Idea On The High Seas Led To Europe’s No.1 Alkaline Water Brand

  • Creating a new beverage category in soft drinks most competitive sector
  • Changing trends with health driving consumer purchasing behaviour
  • How ACTIPH built a lifestyle brand through partnerships and unique marketing

Speakers

Jamie Douglas-Hamilton
Founder & Director, ACTIPH Water

10:30 AM

Reserved for Kerry

Senior representative, Kerry

11 AM

Dragons’ Den

Each company will have the opportunity to deliver a one-minute pitch.

11:15 AM

Morning refreshments

11:45 AM

Working with On-Trade to Promote Premium Non-Alcoholic Drinks

  • Why both low and no alcohol beers is needed in the market
  • Understanding the mindset of the low and no alcohol consumer
  • Will consumers under the legal drinking age be able to drink no alcohol beers in the future?
  • Premiumisation – does consumer perception change when drinking low and no alcohol beers?

Speakers

Tim Blake
Co-Founder and Commercial Director - CROSSIP

12:15 PM

Available for sponsorship

12:45 PM

Lunch and networking

1:45 PM

Available for sponsorship

2:15 PM

No, low, lower and now ‘mid’ – exactly what is the difference, do these descriptors matter and what’s next?

  • Where are we with the low alcohol descriptors? What are these and why shouldn’t we use them on soft drinks?
  • The importance of ‘lower’ options in the growth of low and no.
  • What is mid-strength? Is this the right time to introduce a new descriptor or is this just another way to say ‘lower’?
  • What’s next for the low and no sector?

Speakers

Kelly Moss
Head of Compliance, The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA)

2:45 PM

Reserved for Pitcher

Senior representative, Pitcher

3:05 PM

Afternoon refreshments and networking

3:35 PM

Case study: Gelita

Senior representative, Gelita

3:50 PM

Case study: Red Bull

Speakers

Lotte Tregear
Director of Category & E Commerce, Red Bull UK

4:20 PM

Crafting non-alcoholic beverage excellence in the iconic Negroni birthplace

  • Increased consumer desire to drink non-alcoholic alternatives with sophisticated taste
  • Consumers generations mostly driving the trend
  • What is required to deliver against consumers’ need

Senior representative, McCormick

4:35 PM

Case study: How sparkling tea is taking on ‘Champagne moments’

  • Introducing a relatively new category, a breakout product that has become phenomenally successful very quickly
  • Benefits of fermented tea
  • What makes Real Sparkling Fermented Tea unique
  • Understanding the consumers and trends driving demand for sparkling fermented tea

Speakers

David Begg
Founder & CEO, The REAL Drinks Co.

5:05 PM

Case Study: The Mighty Shed

Speakers

Angelique Green
Founder & CEO, The Mighty Shed

5:20 PM

Keynote: Braincare at The Bar: The New Wave of Drinking Is Not Just Mindful, But Mind-Bending

  • Nootropics are the New Buzz: How brain-boosting ingredients are creating a white space for brands — and what makes nootropics different from other functional claims.
  • Bridging Science & Storytelling: Practical ways to educate consumers on complex ingredients without losing the ritual and fun of the drinking occasion.
  • From Ingredient to Icon: What it takes for a mind-enhancing beverage to stand out — formulation, sourcing, regulatory guardrails, and flavor are all part of the brand promise.
  • Lessons from Kin: How we’ve navigated brand development, marketing, and community-building around cognitive function — what’s worked and what hasn’t.
  • A Wellness Status Symbol: Why the next generation of drinkers sees cognitive wellness as the ultimate luxury — and how that shifts category strategy for innovators and suppliers alike.
  • Where We Go Next: Trends and signals: what’s on the horizon for brands ready to push beyond mindful drinking into mind-bending territory.

Speakers

Jen Batchelor
Co-Founder & CEO, Kin Euphorics

5:50 PM

Chairman’s closing comments

Speakers

Mark Dempsey
Senior Consulting Director –Consumer, GlobalData

6 PM

Drinks reception

7 PM

End of day one

8:15 AM

Registration and refreshments

8:50 AM

Chair’s opening remarks

9 AM

Keynote: Develop and Launch New Brands on a Shoestring

  • How soft-launch testing provides faster, deeper insights to drive brand growth
  • Why customer behavior sometimes contradicts stated preferences
  • How AI is transforming creative work and brand-customer fit

 

Speakers

Flemming Morth
Head of New Drinks, Swinkels Family Brewers

9:40 AM

Available for sponsorship

Potential topic

Advancements in natural sweeteners - what flavours do consumers want?

  • Enhancing flavour in low/no alcoholic and sugar reduced beverages through: natural sweeteners, rare sugars, bulking agents, texturisers and organic acids
  • Using artificial and non-artificial low-calorie sweeteners
  • Recent developments in additives - additional ingredients that can enhance flavour and experience
  • What future innovations can we expect to see in sweeteners

10:10 AM

Case study: Tackling the sustainability challenge

  • Sustainability and recycling initiatives undertaken by leading brands
  • Ensuring a circular supply chain: how are brands recycling and reusing materials?
  • Understanding how a brands sustainability credentials influences consumer decision making
  • Meeting legal requirements in different markets and regions

10:40 AM

Morning refreshments and networking

11:10 AM

Speaker hosted roundtables

Interactive roundtable sessions offer a unique opportunity to come together with your peers to share best practice and develop solutions to critical challenges facing the industry as a whole. Hosted by industry experts and each focused on a single issue, roundtables are an exciting, interactive way to build your personal network and learn from the experience and expertise of others.

Each roundtable session lasts for 40 minutes and delegates may attend up to 2 roundtables.

Available for sponsorship

POTENTIAL TOPICS

  1. Stevia Innovation in Non-alcoholic Drinks  Explore the potential of plant-based stevia flavour modifiers, sweeteners and integrated solutions.  Learn how stevia delivers deep sugar reduction across product categories.
  1. Consumer Engagement Through New Digital Technologies Digital recognition technologies such as QR codes and NFC tags can be applied to reusable water bottles or glasses and used as powerful marketing and business management tools. By analysing consumption data, brands can benefit from greater efficiency in system management.
  1. Eco-Packaging Innovations Brands are switching to more sustainable and eco-friendly packaging to ensure they meet consumer demand for sustainable products. Innovation in low carbon packaging is key to helping brands lower their carbon footprint. Learn about the latest innovations in eco-packaging, the future of sustainable packaging and the technologies that are helping brands make a positive and definitive change to its carbon footprint.
  1. Blurred Lines In The Non-Alc. Space
  • The effect of social changes and changing consumer attitudes
  • Is alcohol now viewed as an ingredient?

 

12:30 PM

Lunch and networking

1:30 PM

Available for sponsorship

Potential topic

Ingredients for the rising functional beverage industry

  • How functional beverages offer convenient ways to support consumer lifestyle and wellness goals
  • Latest innovations in functional ingredients beverage formulations

2 PM

Case study: How a brand has successfully launched and scaled their business

  • Identifying commercial opportunities in a crowded market
  • Ensuring the brand heritage and key values are communicated in the new product
  • Analysing social occasions and customer experiences
  • Reviewing customer feedback and commercial success

2:30 PM

Available for sponsorship

Potential topic

Recent advancements in PET plastic bottles

  • Understanding the pros and cons: how does PET bottles meet your sustainability goals
  • Manufacturing PET bottles in an environmentally friendly way
  • Recycling PET bottles and how they are perceived by consumers

3 PM

Afternoon refreshments and networking

3:30 PM

Panel discussion: Crystal ball gazing – the future of state of mind drinks

  • Exploring consumer’s demand for state of mind drinks: Relax, Focus, Energy, Mood, Productivity
  • How functional drinks promote health
  • Latest developments in nootropics
  • The future of key ingredients: Caffeine, sugar, botanicals, CBD, BCAA amino acids and others
  • What is the future of CBD in drinks?

4 PM

Chairman’s closing comments

4:10 PM

End of conference

Speakers

Select a speaker to learn more

Back
Jen Batchelor
Co-Founder & CEO, Kin Euphorics

Driven to change the ways we revel, Jen Batchelor brought her expertise of Ayurvedic practice, psychology, neuroscience, circadian rhythms, & quantum physics to concoct a tonic that would be the response to a long-unanswered need. She founded Kin Euphorics in 2017, bottling and canning a brain-powering combination of adaptogens, nootropics, and botanicals for anytime enjoyment. As the first Latinx woman to raise over $15 million in venture capital for a beverage brand, Jen has transformed Kin into a movement. The scientific foremother and pioneer of the nonalcoholic & consumables wellness category, Jen is forever dedicated to innovating for the betterment of all.

Session Details:

Keynote: Braincare at The Bar: The New Wave of Drinking Is Not Just Mindful, But Mind-Bending

2025-09-24, 5:20 PM

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Jamie Douglas-Hamilton
Founder & Director, ACTIPH Water

Jamie is a 15x Guinness world record holder and the founder of ACTIPH Water, launching in 2017 as the first alkaline ionised water in UK and are now exporting to 30 countries worldwide and are the market leader of the alkaline water category in Europe. Currently the no.1 selling water in the natural channel, no.1 selling food & drink item in Holland & Barrett, no.1 selling water on Amazon and was on the Tesco Incubator programme in 2022. Partnering with some of the biggest fitness events in Europe such as Hyrox, Tough Mudder, Spartan, Cross Fit, Run Through and have partnered with Disney’s Marvel Studios for Thor Love and Thunder in 2022 and Deadpool & Wolverine in 2024. ACTIPH is a lifestyle brand encouraging and enabling consumers to live active lives through healthier hydration.

Session Details:

Keynote – Beyond Hydration: How An Idea On The High Seas Led To Europe’s No.1 Alkaline Water Brand

2025-09-24, 10:00 AM

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Steve Kearns
Managing Director, Cawston Press

Work

1996-2006 - Unilever, Varying roles across Sales and Marketing

2006-2010 - General Manager Rosslyn Park F.C. (Rugby Union)

2010-2015 - Unilever, Asda followed by Out of Home Ice Cream Channel and Strategy Controller (Walls and Ben & Jerry’s)

2015 to Present – Managing Director Cawston Press

 

Loves

Rugby, ice cream and apples!

Family

Happily married with 3 children

 

Hobbies

- Sport (any)

- Spending time with family and friends

- Long walks or cycle rides in the countryside

- Experimenting in the garden

Next speaker
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Mark Dempsey
Senior Consulting Director –Consumer, GlobalData

Mark brings over 20 years experience in the foodservice, retail and FMCG sectors to GlobalData.  Mark joined the GlobalData team in 2017 following 5 years living in Canada where he was an insights leader for PepsiCo and strategy consulting leader for the NPD group.   In his role at GlobalData, Mark brings bold thought-leadership to global partners across the manufacturer, retailer and distributor segments; always striving to find new ways to create growth by positively influencing shopper behaviour.

Mark brings significant FMCG knowledge and expertise to the conference having led research around the world on topics from shopper segmentation, to category market sizing to innovation planning and the study of global best practices.

Mark will be chairing the conference whilst sharing his views on the changing nature of next generation product offerings, the demands and expectations of today’s consumer, and the innovations and trends that will shape the future…

Session Details:

Chair’s opening remarks

2025-09-24, 8:50 AM

Session Details:

Chairman’s closing comments

2025-09-24, 5:50 PM

View In Agenda

Social Links:

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Flemming Morth
Head of New Drinks, Swinkels Family Brewers

Flemming Morth is Head of Center of Innovation at Royal Swinkels Family Brewers, known for its iconic brands like Bavaria 0.0, PALM, 8.6, Cornet and Habesha. He is responsible for building a strong innovation pipeline, improving time to market, fostering and commercializing new growth opportunities. He graduated from Aalborg University in Denmark with a Master’s degree in International Business. Flemming has successfully developed and launched innovations, new brands and new business models in various industries. He is passionate about rethinking marketing and innovation to help customers better achieve their goals.

Session Details:

Keynote: Develop and Launch New Brands on a Shoestring

2025-09-25, 9:00 AM

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David Begg
Founder & CEO, The REAL Drinks Co.

David founded The REAL Drinks Co. in 2016 to create high-quality non-alcoholic beverages. After two years of development, REAL launched a series of non-alcoholic sparklings that gained a following among top sommeliers in the UK and Europe and is now a leading brand in the no&lo sector. Following his success, David has expanded his focus to include the broader non-alc drinks category, working with partners to develop a range of fermented drinks.

A manufacturing engineer by training, David spent ten years in strategy consulting, primarily with Bain & Co. He has been part of the founding team of disruptive start-ups like Active Hotels, Tom Dixon, Mindshapes, and Clippings.com. His passion for food, growing, regenerative food systems and sustainable health inspired his move into drinks and the creation of The REAL Drinks Co.

Session Details:

Case study: How sparkling tea is taking on ‘Champagne moments’

2025-09-24, 4:35 PM

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Kelly Moss
Head of Compliance, The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA)

As Head of Compliance at the WSTA Kelly deals with compliance and food regulatory matters. She leads on low and no which includes acting as secretariat to the WSTA’s Low and No Working Group, a group formed to support WSTA members in producing, labelling and promoting LoNo alcohol products in the UK. Kelly also acts as secretariat for the Retail of Alcohol Standards Group, The British Wine and Made Wine Producers Committee and the Direct-To-Consumer Committee. Her background is as a Trading Standards Officer, and she enjoyed running her own Food Labelling Consultancy business prior to joining the WSTA in 2017.

Session Details:

No, low, lower and now ‘mid’ – exactly what is the difference, do these descriptors matter and what’s next?

2025-09-24, 2:15 PM

View In Agenda
Next speaker
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Tim Blake
Co-Founder and Commercial Director - CROSSIP

Tim Blake is a seasoned drinks professional whose passion for the world of beverages has defined his remarkable journey. Born into a family deeply ingrained in the bar trade, Tim’s connection to the industry was established from the very beginning. His lifelong fascination with the art of mixology and his unquenchable thirst for knowledge led him to become a trailblazer in the world of beverages. Tim Blake’s journey from a bartender’s apprentice to a beverage luminary is a testament to his unyielding passion, relentless pursuit of excellence, and unwavering dedication to the art of drinks. His innovative spirit, combined with his deep respect for tradition, has left an indelible mark on the industry, inspiring both seasoned professionals and aspiring enthusiasts alike.

Session Details:

Working with On-Trade to Promote Premium Non-Alcoholic Drinks

2025-09-24, 11:45 AM

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Next speaker
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Lotte Tregear
Director of Category & E Commerce, Red Bull UK

Lotte has a wealth of experience in both retail and manufacture – with a focus on how we implement the insights data present to us, in both an in outlet and online environment. She’s spent the last 15 years at Red Bull – and leads a team of specialists in optimizing shopper experiences instore and online. She loves data – but not as much as she loves discovering problems in the retail landscape that we can collaborate on and solve.

Session Details:

Case study: Red Bull

2025-09-24, 3:50 PM

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Emma Thackray
Co-Founder, Hip Pop

Emma Thackray is the co-founder of Hip Pop, one of the UK’s fastest-growing challenger soft drink brands. She launched the business in 2019 with a clear goal: to make better-for-you drinks that taste great, without sweeteners or artificial ingredients. Hip Pop uses real fruit, live cultures and functional ingredients to deliver bold flavour with real benefits.

Before founding Hip Pop, Emma led Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in the UK, she now brings that same purpose-driven approach to disrupting the soft drinks space.

Hip Pop’s award-winning sodas and kombuchas are stocked in major retailers including Sainsbury’s, Morrisons M&S, and Co-op. Under Emma’s leadership, the brand has won multiple Great Taste Awards and been recognised for its rapid growth and innovation.

For Emma, it is not just about what goes into your drink. It is about choosing better, feeling better and enjoying every sip.

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Louise Avery
Founder, L.A Brewery
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Todd Davis
Director of Innovation Intelligence, Ai Palette

Todd holds an MBA from the University of Manitoba. His career in brand and innovation has included living in Toronto, Geneva, Singapore and Hong Kong working with research giants Nielsen and YouGov and more recently C&C Group on the producer side. Todd joined the Ai Palette- Globaldata team in early 2025

His client work has included engagements with Starbucks, Heineken, Pernod Ricard, Dannon, Lidl, Ferrero, Disney, HSBC and The British Olympic Association

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Angelique Green
Founder & CEO, The Mighty Shed

From humble beginnings selling lemonade at just seven years old in San Francisco's projects, Angelique discovered that the key to winning ideas lies in a deep understanding of culture. This revelation propelled her 25-year journey to define the cultural shifts that unlock award-winning brand innovations for industry giants like Starbucks, Nike, Coca-Cola, Formula-1, and McDonald's.

Today, Angelique is a thought partner for FTSE 100, Fortune 500 companies, and Universities. With an MBA in Strategic Marketing and Innovation from Cranfield School of Management, Angelique continues to inspire and transform brands with her insightful, purpose-driven approach.

With The Mighty Shed, Angelique invites you to explore the leading edge of pleasure and wellbeing to uncover new insights and opportunities that will ignite your imagination and innovation pipeline.

Session Details:

Case Study: The Mighty Shed

2025-09-24, 5:05 PM

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Plan Your Visit

Venue

Hilton London Bankside

2-8 Great Suffolk St, London SE1 0UG

Guests can make bookings at Hilton London Bankside for the nights of September the 23rd and 24th 2025. To secure a booking at our group's preferred rate, please click 'book your stay' below. The deadline to book your room is the 4th August 2025.

Sponsors

Select a sponsor to learn more

SESSION SPONSORS

Roundtable Sponsors

Spotlight Sponsors

Exhibitors

Networking Sponsors

Media Centre

MEDIA PARTNERS

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Enquiry

Contact Us

SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES

Ben Gemmell

Head of Consumer Portfolio

+44 207 661 8841

SPEAKER ENQUIRIES

Alfred Mani

Conference Producer

+44 (0)20 4540 7582

MARKETING ENQUIRIES

Madelayne Goodall

Marketing Manager

SPONSORSHIP ENQUIRIES

To enquire about sponsorship opportunities for the conference, please contact:

Ben Gemmell

Head of Consumer Portfolio


+(44) 207 661 8841

SPEAKER Enquiries

To enquire about speaking opportunities for the conference, please contact:

Alfred Mani

Conference Producer


+44 (0)20 4540 7582