Cubo Inspiration Safari: What does the gut health scene look like in food and drink today?

Launching Cubo Innovation’s first Inspiration Safari was not only brilliant because of just how much information everyone got out of the day, but with a focus on gut health it was perfectly on trend (which, as we learnt on safari, still has loads of room for improvement) and was of personal interest to me and my colleagues too.

The day started with a gut health breakfast prepared by the chefs at Food Innovation Solutions and oh wow, did it deliver or what! We had chia pancakes topped with salmon, lemon, dill and capers, as well as yogurt bowls with a healthy, nutrient-packed granola and a selection of spicy and not-so-spicy sauerkraut, avocado and greens in seeded sourdough rolls. I knew from that moment on that Wednesday 10th July was going to be a full day of pampering my gut.

Whilst the attendees tucked into their breakfast we had an introduction to the day from Cubo, leaving everyone feeling clear on what they wanted to get out of the day, what to expect, and some background knowledge on what the gut health space has been looking like up until today. Get ready to see some change in the marketplace following the outcomes of these safaris!

We then had a presentation from our sister company Huxly through which we learnt about the link between gut health and mental health, and why it’s something we should be taking into consideration through our branding. To further this, they shared some of the most interesting, unique and increasingly successful products that have been launched in the area of gut health, including probiotic tea that can withstand hot temperatures. They certainly found a solution to a problem and an area they can win in.

With apprentice-style black taxis pulling up outside the kitchens, it was time to head off on safari. Attendees split into teams with our friendly competitions for the day in mind and explored a variety of food stores.

On safari, all sorts of products were found – some with clear gut-health messaging, some with implied gut health messaging, some sitting in the same area but without gut health messaging, a mixture of healthy and (in reality) unhealthy products, some products that hero ingredients and some that don’t… the list goes on, but attendees took away a few products that caught their eye to have a closer look at later on.

It was time for a breather, so the groups made their way to London’s first gut health café, High Mood Food, where we all reconvened over lunch and an insightful chat with the founder, Ursel, and the head chef, Ben.

Not only was the food delightful (hello smashed avocado and sauerkraut on gut health focused bread followed by the most beautiful and delicious salad bowls I think I’ve ever seen…) but the team behind High Mood Food really know their stuff and the gut health (and general health) focus is really integrated into their own individual lifestyles too. You know when you meet someone and can just tell that they’ve got their health and wellness down to a T? That’s Ursel Barnes, the (literally glowing) founder of High Mood Food. Tell me your skin secrets please!

While I was busy snapping away and tucking into my Tempeh High Bowl, the attendees were gathered at one end of the café that the team had kindly set up for us, eagerly listening to Ursel speak about the café’s journey through the gut health scene and Ben speak about the food we were eating. We were then offered a selection of desserts – we had a creamy coconut n’ice cream (banana ice cream, made by blending frozen bananas) and a kombucha sorbet with fresh berries and mint. It was perfect for the heat in central London.

Tummies full, the teams headed out for a second round of safaris to different shops, this time returning with new insights and more products to look at during the afternoon’s facilitation session. Upon their return to the FIS Kitchens for the next part of the day, we had a table full of products including everything from dairy to vegan products and fermented food to snacks with more familiar flavours.

Back at the kitchens, the attendees were introduced to Pat from the London-based start-up Eaten Alive. This brand focuses on raw, fermented, ‘living’ foods – hence the name – and has won multiple Good Taste awards for their products. Pat spoke to attendees about what gut health actually is and how it works, including showing a photo of this *beautiful* looking bug that lives in your gut…

He then went on to explain about the fermentation of foods at Eaten Alive and how their processes of fermentation result in the gut-loving benefits that the consumer experiences with the product. The team behind the brand have been doing this for years, and it was clear through Pat’s presentation that this is his biggest interest and that he’s gained extensive knowledge along the way. It’s always brilliant meeting the people that create the products we eat and learning that they’re not only experts in the beneficial side of the food, but can make it taste great, too. But seriously though, I have those bugs living in my gut?!

To round off the day, we ended with a facilitation session hosted by Cubo, focusing on pack, product and positioning where attendees could take a closer look at and discuss in detail the products they’d found on safari and a collection that we’d brought in ourselves.

What was the outcome? In short, the gut health scene has a lot of exploring and refining to do! Although some products were particularly interesting and are doing well, there was no overall clear statement that came across from the products; it was all a little mixed up with very little information on what gut health involves. Should we really expect the consumer to know all about the topic? Do they need to?

If you’d like a summary of our findings from the day, please get in touch with Cubo Innovation and we’d be happy to discuss what we learnt and can send over a copy of our Opportunities in Gut Health PDF.

Have you got any thoughts on the current gut health scene in food and drink? Share them in the comments and let’s get chatting! We also have a second safari on Gut Health coming up soon so keep an eye out on Cubo Innovation’s LinkedIn page for the announcement. We hope to see you there!