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.

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. 

Recommended reading

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

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