BEYOND TRENDS: THE FUTURE OF ALTERNATIVE PROTEIN

Designed as an exclusive cohort experience, KitchenTown Speakeasy is a dynamic forum for decision-makers to parse and understand the cultural influences at play in our food system in ways that provide strategic advantage and actionable insights that propel innovation.

In the first KitchenTown Speakeasy – Beyond Trends: The Future of Alternative Protein – industry leaders will discover where the keys to sticky product innovation live and reveal opportunities to design alternative protein solutions that matter to people.

AN OPEN CONVERSATION ABOUT THE FUTURE OF FOOD AND FOOD CULTURE – IN PRIVATE

Beginning in January, into February, KitchenTown Speakeasy will assemble 4-5 industry leading teams as begin to define the challenges and opportunities through participant interviews and strategic inquiry. Next, in early spring, our team will conduct proprietary research, rooted in human-centered design and author a confidential report by foremost thought leaders in the field. Then in June, KitchenTown Speakeasy will lead a two-day facilitated design sprint & workshop providing unique action items for each team powered by speakeasy team and cohort brain trust.

SPEAKEASY OVERVIEW

Innovations in alternative proteins are reshaping our food system for a more sustainable future. Momentum aside, we see indications of an increasingly tenuous relationship between this emerging category and the early adopters. To fulfill the sector’s promise, we need to forge a different path to innovation — starting with a better understanding of “the why” — what we eat and why we eat it.

Why is there is distrust in the claims made by the wave of alternative protein products hitting the market? Why are entrenched interests feeling under threat? Why are deep cultural associations and identities with traditional proteins relevant, however outdated they may be?

The cohort will leverage researched critical insights to better design new products and technologies that satisfy shifting consumer attitudes and preferences.  Let’s ensure that alternative proteins assimilate into our food culture for the long haul and capitalize on the full potential of the category.