LONDON, November 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ --

Thursday December 8th 2011 - 2pm GMT/ 3pm CET/ 9am EST
http://www.fi-stevia.com

Fi Conferences announces its first stevia webinar, launched in association with WILD Flavors. This free-to-attend, one-hour event will clarify the new regulations and explore post-approval market opportunities, in addition to addressing ways of overcoming key technical challenges faced in working with stevia.

With Friday's regulatory approval for the sale and use of steviol glycosides in the European Union enabling the launch of stevia-based products on supermarket shelves by the beginning of December, the door is now wide open to tap into the health-conscious European market with this zero-calorie, low glycaemic response sweetener.  With retail sales of stevia products in the US reaching over $1.2bn, European manufacturers must act now to reap the benefits of this natural sweetener.

To facilitate your entry into this potentially lucrative market, this timely webinar will provide insights into maximising the business potential of stevia. Enabling you to attend from the comfort of your own office, this webinar will feature speakers from Europe and the US with experience in developing and launching stevia-based products.

WILD Flavors will outline key aspects of the much-anticipated regulations governing the use of steviol glycosides including acceptable use levels in F&B products within Europe's 27 member states.  With major technical difficulties being experienced particularly around overcoming off notes and lingering sweetness, manufacturers will benefit from solutions to these challenges and insights into effectively launching successful products in both the US and European markets.

For more information and to register your interest please go to http://www.fi-stevia.com.

About Fi Conferences:

Fi Conferences is an extension of Fi Europe Exhibitions, whose food ingredients event, now celebrating its 25th year, attracts more than 23,000 visitors. Fi Conferences, which runs its modular conference alongside this annual exhibition, offers topic-led conferences and workshops that focus on the hottest issues facing ingredient suppliers and manufacturers in the food and beverage ingredients industry. Fi Conferences provide the information and insights needed by R&D, product development, innovation, marketing, quality assurance and sourcing professionals at both ingredient suppliers and food & beverage manufacturers. http://www.ficonferences.com

About WILD Flavors GmbH

WILD Flavors GmbH is headquartered in Zug, Switzerland, and is one of the world's leading suppliers of natural flavors, colors, and ingredients to the food and beverage industry. Through WILD's 16 worldwide production facilities and its global presence through subsidiaries and numerous application locations, WILD has led the industry for over 80 years in Innovation and Great Taste by providing high-quality, natural products and superior service to its customers. The WILD Flavors product portfolio of natural flavor ingredients and solutions for the food and beverage includes components such as natural flavors and extracts, natural colors, concentrates, sweetening systems, specialty ingredients and seasonings, as well as functional flavors and healthy ingredients, taste modifiers, and fermentation technologies. WILD Flavors' knowledge of global supply markets, as well as technologically advanced production processes, brings value to our customers on a daily basis. http://www.wild.de or http://www.wildflavors.com

For further information, please contact:
Simon Hoare
Conference Programme Editor
Fi Conferences
t: +44(0)20-7955-3909
e: simon.hoare@ubm.com

SOURCE Fi Conferences