Positive Nutrition: Meal Replacement

Melanie Luangrath is Sr Director New Business Development & Vertis™ CanolaPRO® launch at dsm-firmenich. She has 25 years of diversified experience, including launching new product solutions and managing cross-functional innovation projects to commercialization. Melanie holds an MBA from Syracuse University, New York. Currently she leads the commercial team for sports nutrition, protein bars, and fortified cereals at the plant-based platform in dsm-firmenich, with Vertis™ CanolaPRO® as the first specialty protein of dsm-firmenich’s portfolio. Before joining dsm-firmenich (back then DSM) in 2018, Melanie worked at Givaudan Taste & Wellbeing and AkzoNobel. She is passionate about food experience discovery and curious about exploring new food combinations that are delicious, nutritious and sustainably produced.

Barbara Jacobs is a Technical Services Manager at dsm-firmenich, specializing in the innovative Plant-based Platform. With a background as a Food Technologist, she brings extensive experience in managing technical support for plant-based applications. Previously, Barbara spent 15 successful years at Unilever, working across various product categories, such as dairy cream alternatives and fermented soy drinks. Her in-depth knowledge of these sectors has equipped her with valuable insights into product development and formulation. Since joining dsm-firmenich in 2017, Barbara has excelled in her role, leveraging her expertise to optimize customer formulas and provide exceptional support throughout their applications trials. She takes great satisfaction in interacting with customers, ensuring their needs are met while offering valuable guidance to enhance their products.

Natalie Stanton is Head of UK Retail Sales at Huel, one of the UK’s leading plant-based, nutritionally complete food brands. She brings 12 years of experience in FMCG. At Huel, she leads the UK retail sales team during a period of significant growth, as the brand expands its reach across supermarkets, convenience, and high-street retailers. Huel’s success in retail is underpinned by a clear proposition, strong product innovation, and a mission-led approach that resonates with a growing number of health-conscious and time-poor consumers. Before joining Huel, Natalie held senior commercial roles at BEAR, Soulfresh and allplants. Her career has focussed on challenger brands, SMEs, and scale-ups, giving her a broad perspective on how to build meaningful customer partnerships, create value, and disrupt categories through insight-led execution. Natalie is passionate about purpose-led business, building high-performing teams, and supporting the next generation of commercial talent in FMCG.

Andrew leads foresight and ideas at the world’s leading independent consumer and sensory research agency. Previously he has occupied marketing and insight roles at Johnson & Johnson, Ella’s Kitchen, and General Mills - supporting brands across a range of categories including Old El Paso, Nature Valley, Benecol, Splenda and Haagen-Dazs. Andrew is passionate about exploring new angles on established narratives and is a passionate blogger, presenter of the ‘product-obsessed’ marketing podcast ‘Impact Makers’, and regular keynote speaker.

Nicholas Robinson has an extensive background in food & drink journalism, covering the industry for a range of leading titles over the years prior to a brief stint in the luxury lifestyle sector where he headed a superyacht media title.