Food & Drink Futures Forum

Daniela joined LS:N Global in 2013, and she now oversees the Micro Trend, Safari and Tribe sections of the website. She is also one of the lead writers for our annual macrotrends. Writing across the consumer lifestyle sectors, Daniela has a fondness for food and drink, advertising and all things gender-related. Before working at LS:N Global, Daniela was a freelance journalist, writing in-depth profile pieces on creatives such as chef Fergus Henderson and choreographer Akram Khan.

Meredith Smith is a Strategy Director at The Future Laboratory, working with clients across retail, beauty, FMCG, conviviality and hospitality to make insights actionable, working with brands like VF Corp, Chanel, P&G, Pernod Ricard, L’Oreal and Hilton Worldwide’s Luxury Division. Meredith is obsessed with consumer behaviour, from mundane acts to guilty pleasures. Her specialist areas are also her passions – strategic foresight and innovation. 

Paul has been working in the drinks industry for almost 25 years, the last 12 as a bar owner. His venues include The Hide and The Arbitrager, both of which serve exclusively London-only drinks. He is a regular competition judge for the sector, and writes about trends for industry publications such as DRiNK Magazine (Asia) and the Diageo Bar Academy. Paul is based in London, but has recently come back from seven years in Asia working with drinks companies from small start-ups to Diageo and China’s Moutai. 

Simon has more than 18 years’ experience in the FMCG innovation sector, conceiving and delivering major design and innovation initiatives for clients including Ford, Dr Martens, Samsung, Unilever and PepsiCo. For the past eight years he has worked on innovations in next-generation harm-reducing tobacco and nicotine products for Nicoventures/British American Tobacco, and on the strategy and innovation behind Nine Elms.

After a stint as a sales rep for DIY products and a start-up wallpaper business, Leo’s first break came selling double glazing. Property development and a manufacturing business followed. He then became an equity partner in an era-defining London agency, successfully sold to global ad network Omnicom. A string of start-ups and investments ensued, mainly in creative technology. In 2015, he co-founded the purpose-driven, life sciences and healthy baking brand Modern Baker with a mission to improve the quality of dietary carbohydrates.

Neil is a highly experienced brand strategist who has worked at some of the UK’s most revered creative agencies. After a decade in London working at the likes of Mother and AnalogFolk, Neil relocated north to join Love as head of strategy in 2016. Based in Manchester, Love has an outstanding track record in solving major business challenges for global brands. Recent Love brands include Häagen-Dazs, Haig Club, Penfolds, Barclays, BrewDog and Vogue. As LOVE’s head of strategy, Neil, with his team, blends consumer and cultural insight with brand and business expertise to create standout, effective ideas for clients.