Gaming meets formulation: IMCD Group to showcase nutritious F&B concepts at IFT First 2026

IMCD Group will exhibit its range of nine exclusive food and beverage concept creations, zeroing in on the e-sports category at IFT First 2026 in Chicago, US (July 12–15). The company highlights the segment as one of the fastest-growing digital markets, with consumers in the field seeking nutritional solutions that offer energy, performance, and engaging experiences.

The distributor and formulator of specialty chemicals and ingredients will be featuring its solutions in a special virtual exhibit, under the banner “Delivering with Purpose.” The tagline convenes three megatrends driving the food and beverage industry: “purposeful nutrition with performance, purposeful experiences for the senses, and purposeful value without compromise.”

“Spotting a trend early is one thing, turning it into a market-ready product is another,” says Emilie Pharand, VP of Food & Nutrition, North America, IMCD.

“That’s where we add value: combining deep market insight, formulation expertise, and the right portfolio of supplier solutions to draw on, so we can co-create with our customers from first concept through to prototyping and optimization,” she highlights.

“Our e-sports energy drink is a good example of that in practice, and it’s one of nine concepts at our booth showing how the right formulation partner can turn a trend into a finished product and get it to market faster.”

Bringing trends to the show floor

IMCD will be inviting visitors to step away from the bench and into an immersive virtual reality football experience.

With the FIFA World Cup season kicking off this summer, this activation allows attendees to test their reflexes and experience first-hand how brands can connect with consumers seeking energy, performance, and genuine engagement.

Bringing the trends to life, IMCD will present nine exclusive concept creations spanning performance nutrition, indulgent snacking, and better-for-you staples. According to the company, these were designed around the idea that consumers shouldn’t have to choose between taste, nutrition, function, and value.

The first offering is an E-Sports Energy Drink, with natural caffeine, fiber, and collagen peptides for sustained energy and joint support. This comes alongside a Muscle Mass Gainer Powder Beverages — in dairy and plant-based options — with functional protein for muscle maintenance and growth.

Next, IMCD will spotlight its PowerFuel Bar for balanced, on-the-go nutrition with whey crisps and a chocolate-flavored Protein-Enriched Gummy, made with 9 g of protein, 5 g of fiber, and no sugar.

The third is the company’s Beauty Brownie Bites, which are made using cocoa reduction technology and collagen peptides for skin, hair, and nail health.

In the savory category, IMCD will offer samples of its egg-free Fiber-Enriched Veggie Dip, with added fiber and reduced fat. For a more substantial meal, it will serve its Gluten-Free Pasta Bowl Meal, a protein-enriched pasta with fiber-rich tomato sauce.

For dessert, the company will showcase its Plant-Based Sablé Cookie with Bake-Stable Fillings alongside its Vanilla & Chocolate Fudge Bundt Cake for “bakery-style indulgence” with chocolate inclusions.

IMCD’s experts will be on the show floor to discuss formulation challenges in performance nutrition, sensory experiences, and value-driven product development.

IMCD innovation pipeline

Last month, IMCD opened its Pharmaceutical Technical Centre and Food & Nutrition US Technical Hub at its new offices in Allendale, New Jersey, US. The site joins the company’s network of more than 80 global technical centers.

In February, the company moved to acquire Willows Ingredients to strengthen its food and nutrition business in the UK and Ireland. The deal strengthened the specialist’s position in health, sports, and animal nutrition.

Earlier this year, IMCD Group opened its modernized Food & Nutrition application laboratory in Cologne, Germany. The company aims to strengthen its technical expertise in food and nutrition, offering manufacturers a practical environment to develop new recipes, market-relevant concepts, and joint innovation projects.