‘I think that International Women’s Day is not a good symbol: we don’t need a specific day. Men and women are equal’ – Sophie de Reynal [Interview]
Trend hunter and food industry consultant Sophie de Reynal has been director of marketing at NutriMarketing for over 25 years. She speaks to us about her career, the role women play in shaping food innovation, and the value of International Women’s Day.
You studied at the French business school ISG. What led you to pursue a career in the food industry?
“In fact, I never asked myself the question – it seemed like the obvious thing to do. During my studies at ISG, I did all my internships in food or food retail companies, so naturally, when I graduated, I look[ed] for a job in the food industry as well.”
NutriMarketing is a nutrition-focused food marketing consultancy based in Paris and you have been director of marketing there for over 25 years. What does this role involve?
“NutriMarketing is a consulting agency involved in the monitoring of innovation, development of new products, and communication in nutrition. My role is mainly in monitoring innovation. I look for anything new – new ingredients, new products, consumers expectations and awareness, new regulation, new scientific studies…
“With that work, we conduct market studies, trends presentations, we guide innovation tours at food shows, and we organise workshops to inspire the food industry. Then we help our customers to develop new products that fit the trends we have detected on their market. It could be reformulation with new ingredients or a brand-new concept.”
You lead the Innovation Tours at Vitafoods Europe each year, guiding visitors around the show floor to see innovations that are focused on certain themes: sustainability, nutrition, and healthy ageing, for example. Do you believe there is enough innovation happening within the food and nutrition industries to meet the challenges of today?
“After more than 25 years in this business, I am still amazed by the resilience and the ability of the food industry – especially in the ingredient business – to [respond to] and even plan for changes in the market and changes in consumers’ expectations and attitudes.
“I used to say that today's new ingredient will make tomorrow's new product. We saw with Covid-19 the resilience of the food industry with quick launches of products for immunity, stress reduction, [and] sleep. Even products adapted to the lockdown such as the Netflix & Chill’d launched by Ben & Jerry’s!