Allergy Companions Annual Allergen Conference 2026

Driving Innovation and Collaboration in Allergen Management

As awareness of food allergies continues to grow, allergen management remains one of the most important challenges facing the food and hospitality industry today. Businesses are under increasing pressure to protect consumers, strengthen compliance, and create safer dining experiences while navigating evolving legislation and operational complexities.

To support these conversations and drive meaningful progress across the sector, Allergy Companions is proud to present its fourth annual Allergen Conference: “Allergen Management in the Food Industry: Driving Innovation and Collaboration.”

Bringing together leading experts from food safety, hospitality, retail, legal compliance, testing, and consultancy, this year’s conference will explore how businesses can strengthen allergen controls, manage cross-contamination risks, improve due diligence, and build greater consumer confidence.

Through a combination of expert-led presentations, panel discussions, and practical workshops, delegates will gain valuable insight into the latest developments in allergen safety and hear real-world examples of how organisations are successfully managing allergen risks across their operations.

We are delighted to welcome Intertek, a global leader in Total Quality Assurance, as Headline Sponsor for this year’s event, alongside Browne Jacobson, who will also be sharing legal and regulatory expertise throughout the day.

The conference is organised by Liljia Polo-Richards, Director and Founder of Allergy Companions, and will be chaired by internationally recognised food safety expert and advocate Sterling Crew.

Industry Experts and Guest Speakers

This year’s conference features an outstanding line-up of speakers and workshop leaders from across the food industry, hospitality sector, legal profession, and regulatory landscape, including:

• Patrick McNamara, Global Innovations and Quality Manager at Intertek
• Lisa Cobb, Global Safety Director at SSP Group
• Helen Statham, Head of Health, Food and Fire Safety UK & Ireland at SSP Group
• Emily Barton, Divisional Manager EHP Consultancy at Shield Safety
• Rachel Lyne, Partner, Regulatory and Compliance at Browne Jacobson
• Natalie Moore, Group Safety Manager at Hall & Woodhouse
• Pete Martin, Senior Trading Standards and Compliance Manager at Morrisons
• Shaun Kokott, allergen and supply chain specialist at Supply Chain In-Sites

Across the day, discussions will focus on practical allergen management strategies, legal responsibilities, reporting and compliance, testing and analysis, supply chain risk, and creating safer systems for both businesses and consumers.

The afternoon workshops will offer delegates the opportunity to engage in more focused and interactive discussions around cross-contamination risks, allergen testing, incident response, and supply chain management.

A Conference Focused on Collaboration and Progress

At its core, the conference is about bringing people together to share knowledge, encourage collaboration, and help raise standards across the industry.

Whether you are a food manufacturer, hospitality provider, retailer, consultant, regulator, or allergy advocate, the event offers a valuable opportunity to learn from industry leaders, exchange ideas with peers, and gain practical tools to support allergen safety within your organisation.

As allergen management continues to evolve, collaboration and education remain essential in shaping a safer and more inclusive future for everyone affected by food allergies.

Booking Page

To secure your ticket, please click here.

Event Details

Date: Tuesday 14 July 2026

Venue:
Warwick Schools Foundation
Music School, Rosconn Auditorium
Banbury Road
Warwick
CV34 6PL

Free parking is available on-site.

For those travelling by train, Warwick train station is approximately a 10-minute walk from the venue, while Leamington Spa train station is only a short taxi ride away.

We look forward to welcoming delegates from across the industry for what promises to be an insightful, collaborative, and impactful event 🤝 ☀️ 🎙️