Nextin Research Named Official Market Intelligence Partner of IFT FIRST 2026

Nextin Research™ by MarketPlace is heading to Chicago this July as the designated Market Intelligence Provider for IFT FIRST Annual Event & Expo—one of the most important gatherings in food science and innovation.

Taking place July 12–15 at McCormick Place, IFT FIRST brings together food science R&D professionals, ingredient suppliers, brands, and innovators from across the industry. This year, Nextin will be embedded in the Startup Pavilion, bringing proprietary consumer research and forward-looking category intelligence directly into the event experience.

An Exclusive Report Built for IFT FIRST

In partnership with IFT, Nextin Research has developed an exclusive co-branded insights report focused on the ingredient trends shaping the near future of food covering colors, flavors, sweeteners, protein, and fiber. A three-to-four page teaser will be available to all IFT FIRST registrants, with a full complimentary download available to all IFT members. All IFT members will also receive a special discount code applicable to all Nextin insight packages.

This report represents a first-of-its-kind collaboration between Nextin's primary consumer research and IFT's deep food science community. It's designed specifically for R&D professionals who need to connect consumer demand signals to ingredient and formulation decisions.

Growth Strategy Ideations for Startup Pavilion Winners

Nextin will also be providing Growth Strategy Ideation sessions to Startup Pavilion winners — four hours for the winner and two hours for each runner-up. These sessions are designed to help early-stage food companies identify where they have the strongest market opportunity and build a strategic foundation grounded in real consumer data.

Find Us at the Startup Pavilion

If you're attending IFT FIRST, find us at the Startup Pavilion July 12–15. We'd love to connect, walk you through the exclusive report, and show you how Nextin's consumer research can inform your innovation pipeline.