Food & Drink

We know things move quickly in the Food & Drink sector. New ingredients, new methods of manufacture, new packaging, new brands, new trends, new restaurants and bars, new ways to reach consumers – and always new competitors. That’s what makes it so exciting. 
 

The Future of Food

This speed of change, not least as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, means that the Food & Drink sector faces an unprecedented challenge but also a huge opportunity. The businesses which are the most agile and in tune with changing consumer trends will be best placed to reap the rewards as the landscape evolves – and that means your intellectual property needs to work harder for you than ever before.
 

Trusted advisor

That’s where we come in. Our attorneys have a genuine depth of experience in all things Food & Drink, covering the full length of value chain from soil to consumer, including: human food and nutrition; beverages; animal and pet food and nutrition; alternative protein sources; alternative meats; vegan foods; confectionery; nutritional supplements; baby food; ingredient innovation; manufacturing technology; packaging; coffee shops; coffee and vending machines; restaurants and bars; agriculture and horticulture; poultry and animal breeding.


We focus on you


Whether you’re a multi-national, a high growth private company or an early stage start up - wherever you are in the food (or drink) chain, we would love to work with you.
 
We offer the full range of services you might need, including: patent, trade mark and design protection; strategic IP advice; freedom to operate; ​brand clearance searches; competitor landscaping; due diligence and dealing with investors; innovation capture; ​oppositions; advice on infringements; dispute resolution; advice on international IP protection; and much more!

If you would like to know more and find out how we might be able to help your Food & Drink business, please get in touch. We would love to be part of your journey. But more than that, we understand your sector. Against the commercial backdrop which is already familiar to us, we work hard to get to know your business and its own individual needs, providing tailored, pragmatic advice and building a genuine partnership.

Rowena Tolley

Rowena Tolley

Partner

Rike Dekker

Rike Dekker

Partner

Barbara Durling

Barbara Durling

Partner

Carol Nyahasha

Carol Nyahasha

Counsel

Sam Bailey

Sam Bailey

Attorney

Kathryn Sayer

Kathryn Sayer

Associate

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Social impact in action

World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards

We are proud sponsors of this year’s World Food Forum (WFF) Startup Innovation Awards, powered by Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC).

Partnerships

Food & Drink Exporters Association
(FDEA)

We are active members of the Food & Drink Exporters Association. The FDEA are a membership community of businesses from across the UK food and drink sector - manufacturers, suppliers, service providers and in-market experts.

With over 50% of UK-based F&D companies now looking abroad to grow their businesses and UK F&D exports reaching almost £25bn last year, we spoke to F&D veteran and export guru Nicola Thomas, co-director of the Food & Drink Exporters Association (“FDEA”) about what she thinks Britain does best in the F&D space and how to convert that into a winning export strategy.

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
– World Food Forum

We are proud sponsors of this year’s World Food Forum (WFF) Startup Innovation Awards, powered by Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC), a global startup competition established to support and showcase innovators and entrepreneurs who are harnessing the power of technology to drive the sustainable transformation of agrifood systems in support of ending global hunger and achieving the Sustainable Development Goals.

The WFF is an independent, youth-led global network of partners facilitated by the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO). It aims to spark a global movement that empowers young people everywhere to actively shape agrifood systems to help achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and a better food future for all.

Food technology and IP

Consumers are driving the food revolution. Movements such as Farm to Fork and Beauty From Within are no longer concepts but a way of life many are choosing for the long-term.

The growing demand for sustainable, clean and healthy foods and beverages has seen a whole new influx of innovative companies disrupt the market. Functional foods, alternative meats, and supplements have never been more popular. Companies that understand and adapt to these new trends are reaping the (commercial) rewards.

Whether you are an established business or a start-up, our experience covers the full supply chain and can help you protect some of your most valuable assets: your patents, designs and trade marks. Our services include advice and protection in the following fields:

  • agriculture and horticulture

  • crop science

  • functional foods

  • ingredient innovation

  • packaging

  • production and processing

  • machinery

Are you one of the disrupters in the Food & Drink market? 

Are you keen to defend and expand your current market position? Effective IP protection can help future-proof your business and build value in your business.
Ask us about our IP toolbox which will help you create, maintain and grow a genuine competitive advantage.

You may already have thought about trade marks and designs, but also keep in mind that patents can protect all kinds of innovation in the Food & Drink sector, for example:

  • methods to get proteins from insects

  • ingredients to make plant based meat look good on the BBQ

  • products that protect crops against pests without using chemicals

  • recyclable plastic packaging to reduce the plastic soup

​So make sure you think laterally and talk to our experts early on during development, so you don’t accidentally miss a golden opportunity to protect your valuable innovation.

We’ve been keeping up with some of these disrupters ourselves. Read some of our interviews here. 

Using your brand to make a social statement

Flags with rainbow colours or a video of the elderly partying to promote the vaccination programme against Covid. Companies like Heineken and Thuisbezorgd have no problems with making a social statement. For example, Heineken recently launched a commercial with partying older people drinking beer in which the slogan 'The night belongs to the vaccinated. Time to join them” was displayed. And Thuisbezorgd showed its billboards in rainbow colours during the European Football Championship to support the LGBTI community after there was a fuss about an anti-gay law introduced in Hungary. Continue reading ➤

Using your brand to make a social statement

Or what about this commercial of Heineken about social and political differences. Heineken does not pick a side, but provides a platform to discuss and think about these stands. Does this have impact? I believe it does! Is it risky or is it actually commercially sensible to make a social statement as a well-known brand? Continue reading ➤

Watch Heineken commercial

Using your brand to make a social statement

Well according to the Edelman Trust Barometer 2018 the answer is yes! People believe that brands can play a role in social change and more and more purchases are made on the basis of conviction. Two out of three people are belief-driven buyers. They choose, switch, avoid or boycott a brand based solely on its stand on social issues. Continue reading ➤

Using your brand to make a social statement

Being careful however is wise, as well as being authentic. Watch this commercial from Audi (Super Bowl 2017). Audi wants to make a statement about gender equality. The commercial did not get major negative responses, but it did get a lot of thumbs down on YouTube. Why? Because at the time of the commercial, Audi itself did not have a single female board member... So brand owners: pick your standpoint carefully, align yourself with your consumers and get your point across if you want to reach today's generation.

Watch Audi commercial

Recommended reading

World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards

World Food Forum Startup Innovation Awards

We are proud sponsors of this year’s World Food Forum (WFF) Startup Innovation Awards, powered by Extreme Tech Challenge (XTC).

Would a rose apple by any other name taste as sweet?

Would a rose apple by any other name taste as sweet?

An apple a day is said to keep the dentist away. But apparently it doesn’t keep the trade mark attorneys away, as we discover in this article about the importance of branding for fresh produce.

Brand battles in Food & Drink: How to play the game and win

Brand battles in Food & Drink: How to play the game and win

Are brand owners getting more active on social media? Or are marketing teams getting more creative with their posts and campaigns? Or is it just that the public are more aware of trade marks and branding than ever before?

Food & Drink on the international stage – Food & Drink Exporters Association

Food & Drink on the international stage – Food & Drink Exporters Association

Against a backdrop of painfully rising costs, economic uncertainty and the aftermath of Brexit, it’s no wonder that over 50% of UK food & drink companies are now looking abroad to grow their businesses.

Food & Drink in the smart cities of our future

Food & Drink in the smart cities of our future

Smart cities are transforming the way we live and work, and one area where these advancements are making a significant impact is the food and drink industry.

Fad or future? The rise of plant-based food products in the meat, egg and dairy industry

Fad or future? The rise of plant-based food products in the meat, egg and dairy industry

This article explores some recent innovations in plant-based food technology that have enabled significant expansion and improvement of plant-based food products currently available on the market.

Turning up the heat: Sustainability & branding in the F&D sector

Turning up the heat: Sustainability & branding in the F&D sector

Sustainability is becoming more critical for businesses across all markets, nowhere more so than in Food & Drink. But what are the challenges in branding innovative products which are sustainable?

Drinking, dining & disruption: the revolutionaries in the Food & Drink industry – Lucky Saint

Drinking, dining & disruption: the revolutionaries in the Food & Drink industry – Lucky Saint

About to embark on a Dry January? Or just newly resolved to cut back a bit this year? We’re delighted to talk to Luke Boase and Emma Heal of alcohol-free lager brand Lucky Saint

AI in the kitchen: The future of food technology

AI in the kitchen: The future of food technology

The idea of robots in the kitchen once seemed like a strange and alien concept. Fast forward to today and AI is well on its way to making itself at home among our slow cookers and air fryers.

Click here to see our full library of food & drink related thought leadership ►

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