The Global Products Expo, set to take place from June 26–28, 2025, at the New Jersey Expo Center, is fast becoming the go-to destination for the most cutting-edge conversations in food, health, and innovation. Among this year’s most anticipated events? A series of expo workshops that explore the dynamic intersection of neuroscience and nutrition.
With brain health and cognitive performance at the forefront of product development in 2025, these expo workshops offered attendees hands-on insights into how functional foods, smart supplements, and ingredient science are being reimagined through the lens of neuro-nutrition.
Whether you’re a food scientist, clinical nutritionist, or an innovation lead looking to translate research into shelf-ready products, this recap highlights the most impactful sessions and what they mean for the future of functional eating.
Why Neuro-Nutrition Took Center Stage
As more consumers link diet to mental performance—seeking foods that improve focus, memory, and mood—the functional food sector has moved beyond generic health claims into precision targeting of the brain. This year’s expo workshops addressed critical questions:
- What are the most effective brain-boosting ingredients?
- How can brands formulate clean-label cognitive support?
- What role does gut-brain communication play in food innovation?
- How do we translate neuroscience into compelling consumer products?
The result: a full calendar of interactive sessions, live ingredient demos, and panel discussions uniting researchers, R&D professionals, and commercial innovators.
Key Expo Workshop Highlights
1. The Brain on Food: Understanding the Cognitive Impact of Nutrients
Track: Educational
Audience: Nutritionists, health scientists, product developers
Led by a panel of neuroscientists and dietitians, this session explored the most promising bioactive compounds for cognitive health—ranging from omega-3 DHA to choline, flavonoids, and polyphenols.
Workshop takeaways:
- The timing of nutrient delivery significantly affects cognition outcomes (e.g., nutrient timing for learning vs. stress reduction).
- Formulation strategies must consider bioavailability and synergistic pairing (e.g., B-vitamins with adaptogens).
- Gen Z consumers are highly motivated by cognitive benefit claims, particularly those tied to stress relief, mental clarity, and emotional resilience.
2. Neuro-Gut-Nutrition: The Future of Mood-Food Formulation
Track: Functional Food Science
Audience: R&D teams, microbiome researchers, wellness brands
This hands-on expo workshop focused on the gut-brain axis and how emerging research is shaping product formulation.
Key insights:
- Probiotics and prebiotics play a crucial role in neurotransmitter regulation (e.g., serotonin).
- Fermented functional snacks and drinks are on the rise due to their dual impact on digestion and cognition.
- Formulators were encouraged to explore multi-pathway solutions—combining gut microbiome support with cognitive-enhancing botanicals.
3. Formulating Brain-Friendly Snacks: A Prototyping Lab
Track: Product Innovation
Audience: Food startups, snack manufacturers, R&D professionals
Hosted in a live kitchen lab, this expo workshop let participants test and tweak their formulations using real-time input from ingredient suppliers and food scientists.
Standout formats explored:
- Nut and seed blends with L-theanine and magnesium
- Plant-based protein bars fortified with choline and MCT oil
- Nootropic-infused gummies for workplace focus
Expo Tip: Exhibitors are increasingly using these types of interactive workshops to co-create SKUs with buyer input—a powerful method for validating market demand early.
4. The Neuroscience of Flavor Memory: How Taste Triggers Brand Loyalty
Track: Behavioral Insights
Audience: Brand marketers, sensory scientists, CPG teams
This fascinating seminar unpacked the science of flavor memory and its role in product loyalty.
Why it matters:
- Strong flavor-memory associations can increase repurchase rates by up to 30%.
- Certain flavor profiles (e.g., vanilla, citrus, umami) are more effective at triggering emotional recall.
- Brands were advised to use consistent, memorable flavor pairings in their cognitive health SKUs—not only for taste but for long-term recall.
Workshop Themes You’ll See Again and Again
Across all sessions, several key expo workshop themes emerged that are expected to define R&D priorities through 2026:
1. Personalized Nutrition Meets Cognitive Support
Many brands are leveraging bio-individual nutrition strategies—tailoring products for different focus needs (e.g., energy vs. calm vs. memory recall). Workshops explored AI-based nutrition platforms and DNA-based personalization tools, making this possible.
2. Data-Driven Ingredient Validation
Retailers and formulators are demanding clinically supported ingredients, not hype. Workshops highlighted emerging databases that score nootropics and adaptogens based on peer-reviewed efficacy, bioavailability, and safety.
3. Clean Labeling Without Compromise
Consumers want cognitive support, but they don’t want fillers or synthetic stimulants. “Clean and effective” was a recurring benchmark in every formulation workshop, from snack bars to functional beverages.
Who Attended These Expo Workshops?
The room was packed with a diverse cross-section of the industry:
- Clinical nutritionists seek validated functional products for patients
- Food scientists exploring new functional delivery systems
- CPG marketers looking for credible claims and trend validation
- R&D and innovation leads ready to prototype new products post-event
For many, the value came not just from the workshops themselves—but from networking with scientists, entrepreneurs, and investors who are betting big on cognitive wellness as the next frontier of food.
What’s Next: Turning Knowledge into Product Development
As the Global Products Expo 2025 wraps, many attendees are already translating workshop insights into action:
- Functional food brands are reviewing ingredient decks and exploring ingredient swaps to meet the latest cognitive wellness research.
- Startups are pivoting to offer brain-support snacks and drinks that meet office, classroom, and gaming demands.
- Nutrition-forward retailers are asking for white-labeled, neuro-focused SKUs for their shelves.
If you attended these expo workshops, the next step is activating those insights with your internal product development team—or partnering with functional ingredient suppliers you met at the event.
Final Takeaway: Expo Workshops Are the New R&D Incubators
In the fast-moving world of health-forward food, expo workshops are no longer optional—they’re critical touchpoints for staying ahead of science, trend, and consumer demand.
Whether you’re in formulation, branding, science, or sales, the 2025 Global Products Expo proved that neuro-nutrition is here to stay—and the smartest brands are investing in brain-friendly product lines now.
Missed the workshops? Many sessions will be available via replay for registered attendees. For those who attended, stay tuned for follow-up materials, ingredient sourcing guides, and post-expo collaboration invites in your inbox.
